The Gujarat Congress is gearing up for a significant protest march named ‘Nyay Padyatra’ (Justice March), set to commence on August 9, 2024. This march will span from Morbi to Gandhinagar, covering a period of nearly two weeks. The yatra is designed to draw attention to recent tragedies in Gujarat, including the Morbi bridge collapse, the TRP Game zone fire, and the Harni Lake tragedy. Notable Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and party president Mallikarjun Kharge, are expected to join the march.
The Nyay Padyatra will begin in Morbi, the site of the tragic bridge collapse in October 2022 that resulted in 135 fatalities. It will end in Gandhinagar on August 22. The march will be led by Congress Seva Dal chief Lalji Desai, Gujarat Congress President Shaktisinh Gohil, and MLA Jignesh Mevani. Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge, are anticipated to participate in the event, emphasizing its significance. The purpose of the yatra is to demand justice for victims of recent calamities in Gujarat. The Congress party alleges that these incidents—such as the Morbi bridge collapse, the TRP Game zone fire in Rajkot, and the Harni Lake tragedy in Vadodara—are not isolated accidents but are indicative of systemic corruption and negligence within the BJP-led state government. According to Gujarat Congress President Gohil, the march aims to highlight these tragedies and the alleged misgovernance that led to them. The march will involve 101 core participants, including families of the victims, and will feature Jan Samvad (public dialogue) sessions in various districts. These sessions are intended to engage with the public and discuss the issues at hand. Shailesh Parmar, deputy leader in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, has criticized the BJP for what he calls “rampant corruption” and inadequate governance, which he claims contributed to the recent tragedies. The chosen date for the yatra, August 9, holds historical importance in India’s freedom struggle, marking the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s Quit India Movement launched in 1942. By aligning the Nyay Padyatra with this significant date, the Congress aims to draw a parallel between the fight for freedom and their current struggle for justice and accountability. Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi has confirmed that senior party leaders, including Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi, have been informed of the yatra and their participation is highly anticipated. Rahul Gandhi had previously met with families of the victims during his visit to Gujarat, further underscoring the party’s commitment to addressing these issues. The yatra will not only highlight the tragedies but also serve as a platform for political mobilization and public discourse.
The Gujarat Congress’s ‘Nyay Padyatra’ represents a strategic effort to address recent tragedies and criticize the current state government’s alleged failings. By highlighting the Morbi bridge collapse, the TRP Game zone fire, and the Harni Lake tragedy, the Congress aims to hold the BJP accountable for its purported misgovernance and corruption. The involvement of senior Congress leaders and the alignment with the historical Quit India Movement anniversary adds both political and symbolic weight to the march. As the yatra progresses through Gujarat, it will likely amplify the party’s message and engage with the public on critical issues impacting the state.
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