Bharat Jodi Yatra: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah on Monday praised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, whose Bharat Jodo Yatra concluded in Srinagar.
Both the leaders belonging to Kashmir said that they see a ray of hope in Rahul Gandhi.
Omar Abdullah urges Rahul to undertake another ‘yatra’
As the two leaders invoked Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary while praising Rahul Gandhi for the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Abdullah urged the former Congress president to undertake another ‘journey’ of the country from west to east and in March promised to attend. Message of peace, brotherhood and love.”
what did mehbooba mufti say
I welcome Rahul ji and others. Rahul ji said that he has come to his home in Kashmir. Rahul ji, this is your house. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mufti said at the rally to mark the culmination of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, a return by Gandhi, not just to JK, but to the entire nation.
Both Mufti and Abdullah had joined Gandhi’s visit during the Jammu and Kashmir leg of the tour.
Mufti said that the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi had said in 1947 – at the time of partition – that he saw a ray of hope in Jammu and Kashmir.
The PDP chief said, “Today the whole country is seeing a ray of hope in Rahul Gandhi.”
Echoing Mufti’s sentiments, National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah said the yatra has instilled a ray of hope in the entire country.
Mehbooba Mufti was right. Today, (MK) Gandhiji was martyred. Gandhiji had said in 1947 that he saw a ray of hope in Jammu and Kashmir. Perhaps this visit has once again raised a ray of hope in the whole country.
Congratulating the former Congress President and the party on his behalf and his father Farooq Abdullah and the NC, Jr. Abdullah said that the yatra has indeed been very successful.
“This country was in dire need of this visit,” he said.
The NC leader said an attempt has been made to give an impression to the world that there is only one thought in this country “that of the Sangh Parivar which is communal”.
“But, this yatra has proved that while there are people who like BJP, there are people who want new politics without BJP, who want new thinking, who want brotherhood and peace and love and affection. want to be together with each other,” he said, adding that “the BJP cannot give this thought”.
Calling upon Gandhi to unite the East and West of the country through another Jodo Bharat Yatra, Abdullah said he too would participate in it to spread the message of peace, brotherhood and love.
“Rahul, your journey connected South India with the North. I know you need rest as you have been on the run since September, but I request you that maybe the time has come to connect East India with West through Bharat Jodo Yatra. We want to walk a little with you on this journey. There is a vast part of the country from east to west which I have not seen. If you walk from east to west, God willing, it will be my endeavor to walk with you and spread the message of peace, brotherhood and love,” he said.
Amid heavy snowfall, Abdullah said fresh snowfall in the valley was a good omen.
“You (Gandhi) brought snow to Srinagar. We have been waiting for this for a long time. This snow is a good omen, this snow is good for us. While the snow has affected the programme, it has brought light into our lives, for which we thank you too,” the NC vice-president said.
With the rally, the curtain rises on the yatra that has traveled across a dozen states and two union territories in nearly five months since its launch on September 7 last year in Kanyakumari.
(with PTI inputs)