Bharat Jodo Yatra

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the party general secretary in-charge of the state, will walk with brother Rahul Gandhi from Ghaziabad on Tuesday. Congress leader and former MLC Deepak Singh said, "Priyanka will walk the entire 120 kilometres that the Bharat Jodo Yatra covers in the state. The party workers are very excited as the yatra has generated immense enthusiasm among the masses."

"Whatever work you are doing for the country is for the benefit of all. My blessings are with you," Das wrote in a letter, which he handed over to Youth Congress leader Gaurav Tewari. "Lord Ram's blessings be with you (Rahul Gandhi)," he added. Hanuman Garhi priest Raju Das, meanwhile, said, "This is his personal opinion. We do not agree with Satyendra Das. The Congress has always been anti-Hindu."

Sources said that many - but not all - non-BJP parties have been invited, as the party has extended invitation to parties as against leaders and MPs earlier. The Congress has got response from BSP leader Mayawati and SP leader Akhilesh Yadav who have sent their good wishes.

According to sources, the report submitted to MHA stated that Gandhi did not follow the security protocol, and that there were complete security arrangements. "Delhi Police's security, traffic, and special branch units have submitted their reports," said the sources. "Police had also deployed many policemen in plain uniform, and made a security cordon for Congress MP," said the sources. On Thursday, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had said that necessary security arrangements were made for Rahul Gandhi as per the guidelines, but he violated the rules 113 times and was duly informed of the same.

Buoyed with the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Congress is also planning to reach every voter through booth level convention. Senior functionaries of the party will be attending the programmes, and the party has deputed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to lead the all-women march and there is work in progress on this. The party's 'haath jodo' programme will start from January 26 and the Congress programme will be telecast live on giant screens and will be shown at important places across each state.

Party General Secretary K.C. Venugopal in a letter to Home Minister said, "The security of the Bharat Jodo Yatra was compromised on multiple occasions, and the Delhi Police completely failed in controlling the surging crowd and maintaining a perimeter around Shri Rahul Gandhi, who is assigned Z+ Security."

He said, "The pit of hatred is being widened daily as the government has no time to concentrate on people's suffering as the common man is in trouble due to inflation, unemployment." He said, "To make the party inclusive, the party has to include youth, women, intellectuals, and the Bharat Jodo Yatra is doing that and this has made the rivals nervous.

RLD national convenor Anupam Mishra said, "We have received an invitation from the Congress party, but it is not possible for party president Jayant Chaudhary to participate in the Congress's Bharat Jodo Yatra due to his being preoccupied with other events."