Large crowds join Rahul despite curbs in Kerala

TRIVANDRUM: Congress party leader, who set out on a long march from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, Bharat Jodo Yatra, is aacting huge crowds as he entered the Kerala state capital on Sunday.

He will cover 450 km in 18 days from here to the Tamil Nadu border in Malappuram district on the other side walking through seven districts.

He has completed 84 km of the 3,570 km on foot so far, including 59 km covering two districts in Tamil Nadu, and the organisers say the march was progressing as scheduled.

Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said Gandhi was in good spirits and he did not look tired at any point since the march began from the southern tip of India.

“We’re averaging 20-21 km a day. Our leader is a bullet train and he wants to do more. But others cannot keep up with his pace. Still, we’re doing 25 km in Kerala today,” he said.

“This is a transformational moment in Indian politics. India’s oldest political party, 137-yearold party, organised this march to listen to the people, not to give lectures to them.”

The marchers, who crossed the Tamil Nadu border Saturday evening, walked 14 km in the morning session from Parassala Junction to D GR Public School in Neyyaara.

They received an overwhelming send-off from Tamil Nadu and an enthusiastic welcome in Kerala. Crowds were seen lining the streets as they walked forward.

Gandhi paused at a teashop along the way to east street food and converse with the people there. He also posed for a photograph with the tea seller.

During the lunch break in Neyyaara town, he interacted with students from Dr GR Public School receiving “fresh thoughts and ideas to give the yatra a young direction.”

He also interacted with weavers in Balaramapuram and a group of disability rights activists. “Congress stands for equal opportunity and inclusive society,” he said.

“Congress is in my blood and this yatra (march) is a one-in-a-lifetime chance to make a big impact,” said Suvarna, 53, who was seen walking on bloodied feet.

The organisers had decided to limit the assemblage to 300 people but crowds grew as the march progressed on the national highway leading to the state capital.

They reached the city by the evening and proceeded to the St Mary’s Higher Secondary School to stay in containers mounted on trucks parked on the campus.