The Congress party, led by former chief Rahul Gandhi, has announced the commencement of the Bharat Nyay Yatra. The yatra, themed around “unity, love, and justice,” is set to embark on a journey from Manipur to Mumbai, covering approximately 6,200 km across 14 states. This initiative follows the earlier Bharat Jodo Yatra and is expected to bring attention to critical social, economic, and political challenges.
The Bharat Nyay Yatra is scheduled to kick off on January 14 from Imphal, Manipur, and will conclude on March 20 in Mumbai. The choice of Manipur as the starting point holds significance, as the party aims to contribute to the healing process of the recent ethnic conflicts between the Kuki and Meitei communities in the northeastern state. The yatra will be flagged off by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
The yatra will traverse through states such as Nagaland, Assam, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. Notably, this route covers regions that were not part of the earlier Bharat Jodo Yatra, reflecting a strategic expansion of the party’s outreach.
During the journey, interactions are planned with women, youth, and marginalized communities to understand and address their concerns. The initiative aims to amplify the message of unity and love while incorporating the vital theme of justice into its narrative.
Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh highlighted that the first edition of the Bharat Jodo Yatra focused on economic inequality, social polarization, and an authoritarian style of governance. The Bharat Nyay Yatra, as its successor, will place emphasis on social, economic, and political justice for the people of the country.
As the yatra progresses through key states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, the Congress party plans to advocate for social justice by addressing issues such as caste census and ensuring Other Backward Classes (OBCs) receive their rightful share in the country’s development. This approach is seen as a counter-narrative to the BJP’s potential political gains following the grand inauguration of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya on January 22.
Unemployment and inflation will be central issues in the Bharat Nyay Yatra, with Rahul Gandhi linking them to the recent security breach in Parliament. The Congress leader stressed the need to focus on providing jobs for the youth and expressed concern about the simmering discontent across the country due to what he termed as policies detrimental to employment.
The overarching theme of political justice during the yatra revolves around protecting the values enshrined in the Constitution. Jairam Ramesh emphasized that while the Bharat Jodo Yatra was anchored in the Constitution’s pillars of liberty, equality, and fraternity, the Bharat Nyay Yatra is rooted in the first pillar of justice—social, economic, and political.
The Congress party aims to confront the challenges facing the nation head-on, with the Bharat Nyay Yatra serving as a platform to address the multifaceted issues of justice and equality. As the yatra unfolds, its impact on public opinion and the political landscape will undoubtedly be closely watched.
