Three years ago today, a massive journey began that would capture the nation’s attention. On September 7th, 2022, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alongside Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, flagged off the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari.
The journey started with a visit to the Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial before setting off on an incredible 4,000-kilometer foot march. Over the next 145 days, Rahul Gandhi and over 200 dedicated ‘Bharat Yatris’ walked through 12 states and 2 union territories, all the way to Kashmir.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh marked the third anniversary by calling the yatra a “transformative milestone” in Indian politics. On social media, he stated that the massive walk was organized to spotlight three major concerns: rising economic inequality, increasing social division, and growing political authoritarianism.
But the Bharat Jodo Yatra was much more than a political campaign. It quickly turned into a people’s movement, drawing huge crowds everywhere it went. Rahul Gandhi connected with citizens at large public rallies, small street-corner meetings, and press conferences.
The yatra saw widespread participation from all walks of life. It gained support from popular film stars like Kamal Haasan, Pooja Bhatt, Riya Sen, and Swara Bhasker, who joined in at various points. The march also brought together opposition leaders, including Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah (National Conference), PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Aaditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut, and NCP(SP)’s Supriya Sule.
According to the Congress, the core mission of the Bharat Jodo Yatra was to unite the country and stand against divisive politics. Three years on, party leaders affirm that the message of unity, communal harmony, and protecting democratic values continues to resonate across India.
