Srinagar: On the second day of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Kashmir, the Gandhi scion paid floral tributes to the 40 paramilitary personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) who were killed in the 2019 Pulwama suicide bomber attack and was joined by People Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti along with his daughter, Iltija and mother Gulshan Nazir from Chursoo area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said the Bharat Jodo Yatra was like a breath of fresh air in Kashmir as it allowed people to come out of their homes in large numbers for the first time since 2019.
“The Centre, on August 5, 2019, revoked Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Rahul Gandhi’s yatra comes like a breath of fresh air in Kashmir. It is the first time since 2019 that Kashmiris have come out of their homes in such massive numbers. It was a great experience to walk with him," the People’s Democratic Party leader tweeted.
The unite India foot march stopped near Birla Open Minds International School, Pampore where Congress’s general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined Rahul from Awantipora to the Galandar area of Pampore before proceeding towards Pantha Chowk in Srinagar.
As per reports, security measures on Saturday were stricter than the day before when Rahul Gandhi stopped walking and accused the J&K administration of a ‘security lapse’.
However, after yesterday's incident, the administration made strict arrangements, Ramesh told reporters at a presser here.