I thought my feet were sweating, until I opened my shoes and discovered it was blood. My condition was looked at and treated, and I continued to march. I don't want to stop for anything, we are building our nation again - Mohammed Arief, National Coordinator, Minorities Wing, INC.
Even as the Bharat Jodo Yatra completed the fifth day of its journey on Monday, at Kazhakkuttom, Thiruvantharapuram, Kerala, Mohammed Arif was commended for continuing to march through the pain.
"I thought my feet were sweating, until I opened my shoes and discovered it was blood. My condition was looked at, treated, and I continued to march. I don't want to stop for anything, we are building our nation again," stated an emotional Mohammed.
In a release issued by the Bharat Jodo Yatra team on the daily happenings, words commending Mohammed's participation with bleeding feet were mentioned.
Bharat Jodo Yatra
The Bharat Jodo Yatra is a five-month, 3500-kilometre long padyatra from Kanyakumari in the South of India to Srinagar in the North. It is part of the Indian National Congress party's national mass outreach program aimed at highlighting social polarisation, economic inequalities and political centralisation.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra kick-started with a huge fanfare on September 7 led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. People lined the streets in tens of thousands to show their support for the yatraThe marchers moved in a festive atmosphere with drums playing and excited crowds cheering them on, showering them with flowers at various points during the yatra.
Member of Parliament and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi continued to excite attention as he walked with athlete and Arjuna Awardee, Padmini Thomas. He also walked part of the way with Archbishop Thomas J Netto, Father Ujin Periera and Pushpam Simon and discussed the adverse living, working and economic conditions of fishermen. He also visited and prayed at the Chattambi Swami Temple, Kannammoola, Thiruvananthapuram.
Alongside Rahul Gandhi were Congress leaders K C Venugopal and Shashi Tharoor, and state leaders such as KPCC President K Sudhakaran. Member of Parliament Digvijay Singh continued to provide direction to the yatris as he led them at various points in the journey. "We don't want to stoop to the levels of BJP leaders. They are afraid and can't talk about the real issues that Bharat Jodo Yatra raises among the people", opined Jairam Ramesh commenting on the charges being made by the BJP on the Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Children were excited to participate in the Yatra, and Ann Lia Joseph (8), and Kevin Pio Joseph 10) in the crowds were waiting to present a flower to Rahul Gandhi. While disappointed that they did not get the opportunity due to large crowds, they were nevertheless happy when a Congress worker offered them a flower on behalf of the yatris and Rahul Gandhi.
