Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra, led by its former chief Rahul Gandhi might witness a new chapter in its journey with farmer leader Rakesh Tikait set to meet the latter on January 9.
This will be the first-ever meeting between the two leaders, though Tikait had not joined Rahul's yatra when it arrived in Haryana from Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, Shamli, and Baghpat earlier, despite receiving an invitation from the Congress.
Several farmer leaders had participated in the yatra then, but Tikait and other office bearers of BKU refused to be a part of it.
According to the reports, Tikait will discuss farmer-related issues in Congress-ruled states with Gandhi. Further, there could be a discussion of the farmers in Himachal Pradesh, now that the Congress is in power there. The topic of apple orchard farmer subsidies will also be discussed.
Tikait is also expected to talk about the government subsidies for small agricultural machinery to the farmers in Himachal. He will also be raising the issue of not having sugar mills in the state despite sugarcane being grown in several plain regions. Hence, the farmers are forced to carry their crops to neighboring states via Paonta Sahib after paying high prices for its transportation.
Similarly, there are Congress governments in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan as well. A demand to provide free electricity to the farmers in these states will be raised.
The forthcoming meeting between Gandhi and Tikait is of great importance ahead of general elections to be held in the year 2024.
Apart from farmer organizations, other social organizations are also set to meet Rahul Gandhi during the Yatra. Many famous sportspersons and other celebrities are reportedly on the list of visitors. However, these names are not being made public by the Congress at present.
Meanwhile, the Bharat Jodo Yatra of the Congress arrived at Panipat, Haryana, on Thursday night from Uttar Pradesh.
Previously, Rahul Gandhi, who was intended to spend the night in the border village of Sanoli Khurd, hurried to Delhi after his mother Sonia Gandhi fell ill.
Gandhi will hoist the national flag in Srinagar on January 30 to mark the completion of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which began in Kanyakumari on September 7. Nine states—Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi—and one union territory have been traversed by the march thus far.
