STATE CONGRESS UNITES AS ‘YATRA’ ENTERS RAJ

Jhalawar: Rahul Gandhi and his fellow yatris were received at Chanwli Chauraha, approximately 40-km from the Jhalawar city, in the traditional Rajasthani style. Cultural artistes presented performances including Rajasthan’s famous ‘Padharo Mhare Des’ to welcome the yatris as Gandhi, CM Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot, PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra, and Kamal Nath held hands and danced together on the stage. Ahead of the yatra entering Rajasthan, Gehlot and Pilot, who have been in a tug of war for the CM’s post, presented a united face and danced holding hands. Gandhi said he has no hatred in his heart towards the BJP and the RSS, but he will not let them “spread hatred in the country”. “It is only after shaking hands with farmers that one understands what they are doing. This cannot be learnt from a helicopter,” he said.

He said there were speculations that the yatra would not receive response in Hindi belt but it did not happen to and now there are expectations from Rajasthan. The yatra entered Rajasthan after spending 12 days in Madhya Pradesh where it covered a distance of 380 kms. Congress’s MP unit chief Kamal Nath and other party leaders accompanied Gandhi as he entered Rajasthan. The yatra is scheduled to cover a distance of 500 km - passing through Jhalawar, Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, Dausa and Alwar districts - in 17 days before entering Haryana on December 21. According to the official plan, Gandhi will start the Rajasthan leg of yatra on Monday at 6 am from Kali Talai. He will reach the Bali Borda chauraha at 10 am after covering a distance of 14 km.