BENGALURU: The Bharat Jodo Yatra of the Congress, being led by Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi, entered Karnataka at Gundlupet on Friday after traversing through Kerala.
In Karnataka, the Yatra will go on for 21 days covering 511 km through seven districts including Chamarajanagar, Mysuru, Mandya, Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Ballari and Raichur.
State Congress president D K Shivakumar and Opposition leader Siddaramaiah were scheduled to receive the Yatra at the Kekkanahalli checkpost. But when the Yatra arrived there a little ahead of schedule, the state leaders had not yet reached and the Yatra moved on.
Finally, Siddaramaiah received the Yatra in the Bandipur forest. The two leaders then had breakfast at a private resort. From there, Rahul Gandhi took a car to the public meeting venue.
A massive function was organised to welcome the Yatra. Rahul Gandhi was also given a grand traditional welcome by the state Congress unit near the Ambedkar Bhavan in Gundlupet. A crowd of more than 25,000 people was present to welcome the yatra.
On the stage, Rahul Gandhi held both Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah’s hands and beat the drum. He also got them to water a potted plant together.
Writer Devanoor Mahadev presented him with a book while several other progressive writers have extended support to the Yatra.
Rahul Gandhi also addressed a public meeting and after traversing 4 km, interacted with some tribals and families of those who had died due to oxygen shortage during the second wave of Covid-19 at the Chamarajanagar government hospital.
Food arrangements had been made for more than 20,000 people. The Yatra then covered another 16 km to reach Begur, where the Yatra will halt overnight.