PADYATRA POLITICS IN INDIA: FROM MAHATMA GANDHI TO RAHUL GANDHI

Going back in Indian history there were a number of yatras organised by different people to achieve their political goals. In 1983 actor turn politician Late NTR had organised a Chaitanya Ratham yatra aganst the dismissal of his government in Andhra Pradesh. It was 40 000 kms yatra and it continued till he came back to power, writes senior journalist Vasindra Mishra   Padyatra has always been a most powerful political tool against opponents in Indian Politics. From

Mahatma Gandhi to Rahul Gandhi , dozens of politicians have organised such yatras to achieve their goals. The first padyatra was organised by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930 against British rule in India. In history it's known as the ‘ Dandi March' opposing salt tax imposed by British government in India . Initially the then leaders of Congress party were sckeptical about the ,but under the influence and pursuance of Gandhi ji they participated in the yatra. It was a big success against the British rule .It paves the path of Satyagrah movement against the British rule. Post independence

Mahatma Gandhi again launched another peace march for hindu muslim unity and brotherhood in 1946-47.The Mahatma was against blood bath and communal divide. Coincidentally after 92 years another "Gandhi" has started Padyatra of over 3500 km from Kanya kumari to Kashmir for social harmony and unity .     This yatra is being called as Bharat jodo Yatra by Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party . According to Rahul Gandhi this yatra is against the poor economy, unemployment, price rise, hatred and communal divide. His opponents call it a rehabilitation and revival yatra for rahul gandhi and his congress party. They claim that rahul and his party have been irrelevant in the country.The people of india have rejected them. But Congress party and its leaders loyal to Gandhis are very much excited with the response of public for the yatra .They think that Bharat jodo Yatra will be game changer in the country's politics. They allege that the people of the country are fedup with the politics of hate and divide.They want to get rid of it. People want to get rid of unemployment ,poverty and price rise . Going back in Indian history there were a number of yatras organised by different people to achieve their political goals. In 1983 actor turn politician Late NTR had organised a Chaitanya Ratham yatra aganst the dismissal of his government in Andhra Pradesh. It was 40 thousand kms yatra and it continued till he came back to power. The

former Prime Minister Late Chandra Shekhar ji had also launched Bharat yatra with his fellow politicians . The most famous Sri Ram Rath yatra was started by senior leader LK Advani .It was started from Somnath and was supposed to reach Ayodhya before the 1991 Lok Sabha elections. But he was arrested by the RJD governmentof Lalu Prasad Yadav in Bihar .Narendra Modi was accompanying Advani in this yatra . Advani's yatra boosted the political fate of BJP and in the next elections the number of its MPs in parliament rose from 85 to 120 . Another Ekta yatra was organised by BJP under Dr. MM Joshi .At that time Dr Joshi was the party President and Narendra Modi was Convenor of Ekta Yatra. It was culminated to Lal Chowk in Kashmir after passing through 14 states. As a Chief Minister Narendra Modi had organised a Gaurav Yatra in Gujarat. It consolidated the support base of party in Gujarat. Similarly in united Andhra Pradesh late YSR Reddy of the Congress organised a padyatra in entire state and he succeeded to bring congress in power in Andhra Pradesh . After his tragic death in a helicopter crash congress party lost power,later on his son Jagan Reddy following the path of his father organised yatra and was voted in power. Another non political purely religious yatra was organised by Digvijai singh in Madhay pradesh it was called Narmada Parikrama yatra in 2017. After this yatra the Congress came to power in the state but due to defection Congress government could not completed its term. Incidentally Digvijai singh is the Convenor of the Rahul Gandhi led bharat jodo yatra .