Karnataka: Rahul visits Suttur Mutt; drenched in rain says nothing can deter yatra

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi visits Suttur Mutt in Karnataka's Mysore and seeks blessing from the seer Sri Shivaratri Deshikendra Swamiji at the Suttur Math. Nothing can deter the Bharat Jodo Yatra which is aimed at stopping hatred and violence spread by the BJP-RSS, Rahul said addressing a public meeting later amid heavy rains.

Mysore:Rahul Gandhi visited Suttur Mutt in Karnataka's Mysore and met the Seer Sri Shivaratri Deshikendra Swamiji at the Suttur Math during his ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' foot marth aimed at reviving the party and reaching out to the masses, on Sunday. The Suttur Math, a pilgrim centre, whose history goes back to more than a thousand years.

The Congress MP also sought the blessings of the seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswamiji who is the 24th pontiff of the Suttur Math. Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was also present during the visit. “Shri @RahulGandhi visited Suttur Mutt in Mysore and sought blessings of Seer Sri Shivaratri Deshikendra Swamiji. (sic)," a tweet by the party on its official handle with some pictures shared from the meet read.

In a separate event, Rahul united two communities while attending a mass dining program the district's Badanavalu village where members of two opposing communities-Lingayat and Dalit-participated. Three decades of running feud and tension between the two communities culminated in the program. Their relationship suffered after a violent clash in 1993 and their mutual contempt was as such they stopped using the road connecting their respecting neighbourhood.

Speaks amid rains

"Nothing can deter the Bharat Jodo Yatra which is aimed at stopping hatred and violence spread by the BJP-RSS", Rahul said as he addressed a public meeting in heavy rains here. Soon after Gandhi arrived at the public meeting at the end of the day's march, the showers started but Gandhi chose to continue his speech. Rahul said that whatever "hatred and violence the BJP may spread, this yatra will stop it and will help unite people".

"This yatra will carry on from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and will not stop. As you are seeing it is raining, but rains have not stopped this yatra. "Heat, storm or cold can't stop this yatra. This river-like yatra will carry on from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and in this river you will not see things like hate or violence. There will only be love and brotherhood as this is India's history and DNA," he said. (with Agency inputs)