Bharat Jodo Yatra resumes amid rousing welcome in Bundi district

KOTA: Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra entered its 94th day, after a day’s break on Friday, from a petrol pump at Gudli on Kota-Lalsot mega highway in Keshoraipatan area of Bundi district on Saturday morning amid rousing welcome by thousands of people, including men, women and youths.
Rahul Gandhi had earlier on Saturday morning landed from Sawai Madhopur at helipad at Gudli to resume the yatra.
State chief minister Ashok Gehlot, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, state sports minister Ashok Chandana, PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra and several other party leaders and workers accompanied Gandhi.
Former deputy CM Sachin Pilot joined the yatra in post-lunch session from Arenta. Following a march of over 30km, the yatra concluded at Kodkya, near Bajdali Fatak in the evening via Balapura Chouraha.
Scores of party workers and people who reached Gudli greeted Rahul and marched in the yatra.
Groups of people, including women, stood on both sides of the mega highway since early morning. They showered flower petals over the yatra with slogans ‘Bharat Jodo’ and waved hands to greet their leader.
Pupils of a Ved Vidhyalaya chanted vedic shlokas near Sunwasa village till the yatra passed by.
‘Swacchta Yoddha’, the sanitation workers led by local Congress leader Rakesh Boyat also greeted Rahul Gandhi in Keshoraipatan town. He held a brief conversation with them and got pictures clicked.
Hundreds of people from other districts also reached Gudli in Bundi on Friday night and joined the Yatra on Saturday.
Pukhraj Mehra (65), a retired nayab tehsildar, along with his 5-6 companions reached Bundi on Friday night and joined the yatra.
It was a pleasant experience to see Rahul from up close, Pukhraj said.
Wearing Jodhpuri turban Kump Singh from Phalodi district and Bhagwan Rathore from nearby Sunwasa village were among the crowd of thousands on the roadside to greet Rahul.
Earlier, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi and AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi were also scheduled to join Rahul Gandhi in the yatra from Gudli village on Saturday morning but the two leaders did not turn up.