As the Bharat Jodo Yatra gears up to enter Delhi on Saturday, the Congress and the BJP continued to indulge in a war of words over Covid protocol. The Rahul Gandhi-led yatra entered Faridabad on the last day of its Haryana leg and will enter the national capital Saturday morning.
The yatra resumed despite Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya sending a letter to the Congress leadership to consider suspending the yatra amid a fresh Covid-19 scare. In response, the Congress accused the BJP of selectively targetting the yatra because of its “growing popularity”.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday accused the government of orchestrating the "Covid drama" to defame the Bharat Jodo Yatra, and added that the party will follow any protocol based on scientific advice that is uniformly implemented. Addressing the media on Friday, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said that the Union Health Minister wrote a letter to Rahul even before the Indian government declared a medical emergency in the country, or discussed the new Covid variant. “There hasn't been much impact in India. But we should be alert,” he added.
On Thursday, Rahul said that the government is coming up with "excuses" to stop the yatra. The Congress had also questioned the BJP about its yatras in Karnataka and Rajasthan, and asked if Mandaviya had sent letters to its organisers also.
Slamming Rahul for continuing with the yatra, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said on Friday: “Bharat Jodo Yatra has been going on for more than a month. Once again the world is hit by the Covid-19 crisis and the Government of India has taken appropriate steps, then why the Congress party opposing it? Protocols are for everyone.”
Taking a dig at the Congress, Parliamentary Affairs minister Pralhad Joshi said: “I want Rahul Gandhi to continue (Bharat Jodo Yatra). There is a track record that wherever he goes, Congress will be defeated there but I hope he'll follow health guidelines.”
In the wake of the sudden spurt of Covid-19 cases in many countries, especially China and the US, Mandaviya on Wednesday reviewed the Covid-19 situation in the country and directed officials to be alert and strengthen surveillance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting on Thursday wherein he directed officials to strengthen surveillance measures and urged people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour.
The yatra, which will halt for the night in Faridabad, will enter Delhi from the Badarpur border near Badarpur Metro station.
