Rahul Gandhi-led 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' enters Himachal

“Earlier, Himachal Pradesh was not in the itinerary but we changed the route of the yatra to cover the state.”

The Rahul Gandhi-led 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' entered Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday morning with the senior Congress leader targeting the BJP-RSS combine and accusing it of spreading hatred, violence and fear in the country.

After the march entered the state near Ghatota village, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring handed over the flag to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and state Congress chief Pratibha Singh.

Mr. Gandhi then addressed people gathered in Manser village to participate in the march and welcome him.

"All the policies of the Union government – demonetisation, GST and anti-farm laws – were aimed at benefiting three-four multi-millionaires," he said.

"Welfare of farmers, the youth and workers was not on the agenda," Mr. Gandhi added.

Braving the cold weather, hundreds of Congress workers, along with Chief Minister Sukhu, his deputy Mukesh Agnihotri, state party chief Pratibha Singh, state ministers and party MLAs, welcomed the yatra at the Manser toll plaza near Indora.

Flanked by the state ministers on a foggy morning, Mr. Gandhi walked at a brisk pace amid sloganeering by enthusiastic party workers. Tight security arrangements were in place for the yatra and only select people were allowed to enter the security ring.