Bharat Jodo Yatra causing roadblocks: Plea filed in Kerala HC

KOCHI: A petition has been filed before the Kerala High Court against the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

The petition filed by an advocate of the High Court sought a directive to regulate the Yatra by permitting them to occupy only half portion of the road in Kerala.

The petitioner alleged that there are roadblocks during the Yatra and sought a direction to open half portion for travelling.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President K Sudhakaran are the respondents to the petition. The court will consider the petition on the day after tomorrow.

Earlier on Tuesday, the 13th day of the Bharat Jodo Yatra began from Cherthala. The Congress MP Rahul Gandhi-led Yatra will continue for 15 kilometres until Kuthiyathodu in Alappuzha.

The campsite tonight is in Kochi district.

"Like the last few days, the 13th day of Bharat Jodo Yatra also started around 6:30 in the morning. In the morning session of the padayatra today, Indian travellers will walk 15 km from Cherthala to Kuthiyathodu in the Alappuzha district. Tonight's camp will be organized in Kochi district," tweeted Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party workers, followers and masses will be in the southern state of Kerala for 18 days.

The Yatra is in its Kerala leg and would traverse through the state in the upcoming 12 days.

The 3,500-km march from Kanyakumari to Kashmir will be completed in 150 days and cover as many as 12 states.

From Kerala, the Yatra will traverse through the state for the next 18 days, reaching Karnataka on September 30.

It will be in Karnataka for 21 days before moving north. The Padyatra (march) will cover a distance of 25 km every day.

Earlier on Monday Congress MP Rahul Gandhi participated in a snake boat race exhibition in the Punnamada lake in Kerala.

Rahul Gandhi was seen rowing the boat along with other men and had a smile at the end as he wiped his face. Gandhi took to Twitter and said, "When we all work together in perfect harmony, there is nothing we cannot accomplish".