Bharat Jodo Yatra Day 7: Rahul Gandhi pays tribute to philosopher-reformer Sree Narayana Guru

At the mutt, trust president Swami Satchidananda welcomed Rahul Gandhi and his team. Other senior members of the mutt were also present on the occasion.

In the family’s footsteps

Satchidananda and other seers thanked Rahul Gandhi for visiting the mutt without waiting for a formal invitation. It was Rahul Gandhi’s first visit to the mutt, though it have been visited several times by Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi.

Seers at Sivagiri hand over an image from Rajiv Gandhi’s visit to the mutt to Rahul Gandhi. (South First)

Kerala’s Opposition leader VD Satheesan, who accompanied Rahul Gandhi, said there was no political dimension to the mutt visit by the Gandhi scion.

“Rahul Gandhi has immense respect for Sree Narayana Guru and his ideals, so he visited Sivagiri. The Sree Narayana legacy is an inspiration for all those who believe in plurality and co-existence,” he said.

After the visit, Rahul Gandhi began his yatra from Navaikulam junction at the Thiruvananthapuram-Kollam border.

An encouraging turnout of party workers and followers was visible across the entire stretch covered by the yatra on Wednesday.

The first part ended at Chathannoor town, followed by an interaction with school students. Rahul Gandhi solicited their views on nation-building.

‘My auto driver brothers’

After an interaction with auto-rickshaw drivers, Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “Those who used to earn ₹500 a day earlier are now earning ₹300, in this back-breaking inflation. It is becoming difficult to educate children and run a family. In these difficult circumstances, I stand with my auto driver brothers and will continue to raise my voice against inflation.”

The second part of the yatra ended at Pallimukku in Kollam city with public meeting at Madannada. At the meeting, Rahul Gandhi said that the idea of the Bharat Jodo Yatra is to bring Indians together, irrespective of religion and community.

The message of yatra, he said, was that India is one country, and nobody can divide it if people stand together.