On Gandhi Jayanti, Congress to launch massive padyatra in UP

On this Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, the Congress party will take out a massive padyatra (foot march) from Shahanjahanpur to Lucknow in order to highlight the plight of Shahjahanpur rape victim and seek justice for her besides exposing the misgovernance in the state by Yogi Adityanath-led government.

Bharatiya Janata Party MP and former Union minister Swami Chinmayanand is the prime accused. The Uttar Pradesh police have not booked the influential politician for rape despite incriminating evidence against him.

Congress general secretary in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is expected to join the 180-km padyatra, sources told National Herald.

Congress leader Ajay Singh Lallu who is being seen as the next UP Congress chief said that the purpose of the padyatra is to seek justice for the rape-victim along with highlighting misrule of the Yogi government.

Demanding that an FIR be registered against rape-accused Chinmayanand, Lallu accused the Yogi government of shielding the BJP MP.

“To ensure justice for the victim and safety of her family, Congress party will protest,” he said adding that the matter should be transferred to the fast track court.

Apart from Uttar Pradesh, the Congress will take out padyatras all across the country on Gandhi Jayanti.

According to sourses, Congress president Sonia Gandhi will also lead a padyatra on Gandhi Jayanti from Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee office to Rajghat in the national capital.

Former Congress president, Rahul Gandhi is expected to take out a in padyatra in Wardha, Maharashtra. Rahul Gandhi’s padyatra from Wardha where Mahatma Gandhi spent a considerable time, assumes significance as the state is going to poll on October 21.