BJYM to launch 'Rastriya Ekta Yatra'



New Delhi: Taking to the streets on the issue of UPA's "failure" in tackling challenges like terrorism and corruption, BJP's youth wing BJYM will launch a 15-day 'yatra' in Kolkata next month which will criss-cross 11 states before culminating at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Republic Day.

Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha president Anurag Thakur said the 'Rastriya Ekta Yatra' will be launched in Kolkata on January 12, the birthday of Swami Vivekananda, and will come to an end on January 26 by hoisting the national tri-colour at historic Lal Chowk.

He said the yatra is being organised to "expose" UPA's "abject failure" in addressing key challenges facing the nation like Kasmir issue, terrorism, price rise, corruption and Naxal problem.

The yatra will pass through 11 states including West Bengal, Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab and will cover nearly 3,100 kilometres. Thirty-two major rallies and 150 small rallies will be organised in the course of the yatra.

"We are carrying out the yatra to expose the UPA government's failure in every front -- be it Kashmir problem or other key challenges facing the country like terrorism, Naxal problem, prise rise and corruption," he said.

Alleging that UPA's "soft approach" was responsible for deteriorating law and order situation in Kashmir, the BJYM leader said all political parties should rise above partisan politics while government should come down hard on the separatists.

"Our Parliament had passed a unanimous resolution to take back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Time has now come for the government to honour the resolution," he said, also opposing any dilution in Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

Thakur said all the top leaders of the party are likely to participate in the yatra.

Slamming the UPA government for failing to check "widespread corruption", Thakur reiterated the Opposition demand for setting up of a JPC to probe the 2G spectrum scam.

The youth BJP leader also attacked Congress General Secretaries Rahul Gandhi and Digvijay Singh accusing them of trying to disturb the communal harmony in the country.

Thakur criticised Singh for his statement on slain Mumbai ATS chief Hemant Karkare and came down hard on Gandhi for his remarks that radicalised Hindu groups could pose a "bigger threat" to India than the LeT.

"Both of them are trying to disturb the communal harmony. These kinds of remarks have potential to disintegrate the country," he said.

PTI