Bharat Jodo Yatra Day 114: Former Army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor joins Rahul

As the yatra started early on Sunday amid dense fog, a group of youngsters once again greeted Rahul Gandhi by removing their shirts and expressing solidarity with the Congress leader.

Written by Varinder Bhatia

As the Bharat Jodo Yatra restarted at 6 am on Sunday, amid dense fog, from Taraori in Haryana and entered Kurukshetra, a group of youngsters once again greeted Rahul Gandhi by removing their shirts and expressing solidarity with the Congress leader who has been moving around in a T-shirt in the frigid weather. On Saturday, too, a few youngsters in Karnal greeted Rahul by removing their shirts.

On the way, Rahul kept interacting with people who had queued up by the side of the road. In the afternoon, Rahul addressed a press conference in Samana, Kurukshetra. It was his 10th press conference since the yatra began 114 days ago from Kanyakumari. After the afternoon rest, the journey proceeded from Jirabadi in Kurukshetra and reached the old bus stand. From this point, as per the schedule, Gandhi first worshipped at the Brahma Sarovar (ancient water pool), then offered arghya, lit the lamp, and performed aarti.

Rahul Gandhi’s grandmother and former prime minister Indira Gandhi, Congress leaders say, visited Brahmasarovar about 40 years ago to participate in the Aarti. His mother Sonia Gandhi, too, came to Kurukshetra a few years ago, Congress leaders said.

Senior leaders, including AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, former Haryana chief minister and Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former state president Kumari Selja and Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Hooda, besides several others, walked with Rahul Gandhi.

Former Army chief General (retd) Deepak Kapoor and Lt Gen (retired) DDS Sandhu were among the former Army officers who participated in the yatra on Sunday. Gen (retired) Kapoor, Lt Gen (retired) Sandhu, and Hooda studied together at Sainik School, Kunjpura. The yatra halted for the night in Pratapgarh. Gandhi was expected to stay the night at Jindal house.

 “Thousands of people who have come from all across Haryana are welcoming Rahul Gandhi and participating in this yatra with him. All our state leadership and several senior leaders of AICC are participating in this yatra,” said Congress leader Ashok Arora. On Monday, the yatra will commence from the Khanpur Kolian village and take a halt at Shahbad’s PWD guest house. It will resume from Patti-Boharpur and enter Ambala’s Mohar Mandi. It will cross Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij’s constituency (Ambala cantonment) before entering Punjab on January 10.

Courtesy : TIE

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