After the first phase in North Gujarat, the Congress Tuesday announced the second phase of its ‘Jan Akrosh Yatra’ in Central Gujarat. The yatra will be flagged off on December 20 from Bhathiji Maharaj Temple in Fagvel Kheda district, where the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi launched his state-wide Gujarat Gaurav Yatra in 2002.
The yatra will conclude on January 6 at Kamboi Dham in Dahod-Samadhi of Shri Govind Guru, a revered figure of tribals and freedom fighter, who passed away in October 1931.
In Jhalod taluka, Shri Govind Guru Dham memorial is a place of importance for the tribals. Born as Govind Giri Banjara, Shri Govind Guru was a social and religious leader as well as a freedom fighter.
In March 2024, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi began the 55th day of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra with a visit to the Kamboi Dham in Dahod.
Bhathiji Maharaj Temple that attracts a large number of devotees including Hindus and Muslims is dedicated to Bhathiji Maharaj, who according to folklore sacrificed his life to protect village’s cows from attackers during his wedding. The Kshatriya Thakor community worships him as kuldevata (family deity).
Addressing a press conference at the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan here, GPCC president Amit Chavda said the yatra will cover seven districts of Central Gujarat – Kheda, Anand, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Panchmahal, Mahisagar and Dahod (three municipalities, 55 talukas and 37 municipal areas).
The problems of Central Gujarat will be raised and “corruption in the area” will be exposed during the 1400-km yatra, Chavda said.
The first leg of Jan Aakrosh Yatra held in North Gujarat between November 21 and December 3, covering a distance of 1300 km, has received widespread public support, the GPCC president said.
“During the first leg of the yatra, the public has openly expressed their anger against corruption, mismanagement, discrimination and injustice that have become widespread during the three decades of BJP rule in Gujarat. The Pradesh Congress Committee had started the Jan Aakrosh Yatra to give voice to the questions, pain and voices of the public,” Chavda said.
Stating that the Aakrosh Yatra is not an election march, but a fight for the rights of the people, Chavda said: “The government collects taxes, but does not listen to the voice of the people. Therefore, people from all sections of society should join this march to give a voice to the people. The Jan Aakrosh Yatra is the voice of the people and in the coming days this voice will be reverberated in the entire Gujarat.”
Speaking on the occasion, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Tushar Chaudhary said that the government is not carrying out recruitment despite lakhs of vacant posts in the government.
“During the first phase of the yatra, the Congress demanded complete waiver of farmers’ debt and raised shortage of fertilizers and seeds, illegal liquor and drug business and the need to give employment to the youth through regular recruitment. There is great public outrage against non-recruitment and exploitation of youth through fixed salaries, contracts and outsourcing, despite lakhs of vacant posts in the government,” Chaudhary alleged.
End: 6 January, at Kamboi Dham at Dahod
To cover: 7 districts (Kheda, Anand, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Panchmahal, Mahisagar, Dahod), 3 municipal areas, 55 talukas and 37 municipal areas
Total distance: About 1,400 km
Key programmes: Interaction with all sections of people including farmers, women, unemployed youth, small traders, farm laborers, and workers. People can raise their issues linked to roads, drinking water, irrigation, employment, land rights, and liquor rackets, says Congress
Key issues: Issues of cattle breeders, “corruption” in dairy co-operatives, “injustice” to tribal communities, “corruption” in Nal se Jal and MGNREGA schemes, issues of milk producers, drinking water and irrigation problems, and corruption issues in municipal areas will be highlighted
