Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra comes to Nagaland; rally covering 18 km held

Our Reporter

Dimapur, Nov. 19 (EMN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) on Saturday commemorated the 105th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, by holding Bharat Jodo Yatra (Unite India March) in Dimapur, covering a distance of 18 km.

The yatra, launched by NPCC president K Therie, commenced from DC court junction in Dimapur via Dhobinala-Kalibari road-Westyard- DMC road-Battacharali-Naga Shopping Arcade-National Highway-Agri Expo area and culminated at Chümoukedima gate-1.

Bharat Jodi Yatra is a mass movement started by the Indian National Congress and spearheaded by Rahul Gandhi to cover 3570 km from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, on foot over a period of 150 days.

The state party president said ‘the yatra is to unite the people of the country from violence, hatred, goons and discrimination’.

Therie pointed out that Nagaland is a secular state, and therefore ‘we must protect our culture and never submit to Hindu seva using terrorists and goons’ and not be afraid to stand up against all odds.

He also appealed to the BJP and NDPP facilitators in the state to grow in the interest of the Naga identity, culture, custom and ethnic values, while seeking the attention of the public to join hands to fight against communalism, prosecution of minorities and stand up to ‘save Nagaland’.

“We are already in the battle and we need to fight for survival as it is all about survival of the fittest. We all know the BJP government has imposed the Citizenship Amendment Act to submerge the identity and they have also launched the uniform civil code to seek the agenda of Hindu seva in the land of India. And as a society, our ethnic values, religion, faith and culture are different so we cannot allow ourselves to submerge in the ocean of Hindu seva,” he said.

While expressing gratitude to the coordinators of the yatra, he implored upon the need to wake up for change- change from religious and communal division and corruption.

‘30 years of negotiation (between Naga political groups and GoI, still there is no solution (to Naga political issue), and if only they had the will to implement, it would have been implemented,’ he said, while assuring that the Congress would make that change if it is given the opportunity.

Therie maintained that Congress has not imposed any ideologies, but instead appreciated each and every religion. He assured that the party would secure freedom from imposition of communalism, uniform Act and corruption.

“If we look at the present Nagaland representatives, the 48 regional MLAs are slaves of BJP and they do not represent us. They have sold our identity; they do not look like Nagas anymore; they have shamed our ancestors and have not been able to stand for the cause of our people because of their crime of corruption and their intention to buy the voters. Therefore, the voters should be careful or else we will be submerged and so also realise to protect and defend our faith, custom and identity,” he added.

AICC Secretary in-charge of Sikkim and Nagaland, Ranajit Mukherjee, stated that over the last decade, India has been divided by community, caste, creed and religion. He alleged that the country has been deliberately divided by those who are in power with one motive and used the agenda of fear.

Mukherjee, therefore, called upon all to come together to save Nagaland for better roads, institutions, electricity facilities and not to believe in ideologies like Hindu seva, which has nothing to do with religion but political power.

He also informed that the party will be taking similar initiative (yatra) soon in other districts of Nagaland too.

Short speeches were delivered by Nagaland Pradesh Congress Seva Dal chief organiser Alem Jongshi, chairman of Minority department Sarif Ahmed, Dimapur DCC president Kutoho Chishi, DCC Wokha general secretary Thungjanbemo Lotha, and Dimapur district Mahila Congress vice president Kiniho V Awomi.

At Supermarket, short speeches were also delivered by the chairman of Kisan Congress V Lasuh, Bharat Jodo Yatra Nagaland joint coordinator Rajesh Sethi, Nagaland Pradesh Mahila Congress president N Lucy, All India Professional Congress, Nagaland chapter president Pretso Therie and others.

At 4th mile, short speeches were delivered by NPCC vice president S Supongmeren Jamir, NPCC vice president W Akum Yimkhuing, Nagaland Pradesh Mahila Congress vice president Neojila and ACC president.

NPYC representatives and DCC presidents of various districts spoke at Chumoukedima gate-1, before the yatra concluded.