Bharat Jodo Yatra: Rahul Gandhi meets fisherfolk

Rahul Gandhi met with fisherfolk at Vadackal beach in Alappuzha and discussed various challenges they face, like rising fuel costs, dwindling fish stock, lack of social welfare and pensions, reduced subsidies, inadequate educational opportunities and environmental destruction.

Today, the Padayatra, which resumed from Punnapra with the participation of hundreds of people, will halt at Cheriya Kalavoor at 11 am and resume at 5 pm to reach Cherthala.

While interacting with youths on unemployment, Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said, "The lack of jobs and job security needs to be discussed over and above other issues. Bharat Jodo Yatra provides that platform to our youth."

He also tweeted, "Without harmony, there is no progress. Without progress, there are no jobs. Without jobs, there is no future. The Bharat Jodo Yatra is uniting the voices of despair, to break the shackles of unemployment."

He also interacted with the farmers of Kuttanad, which is known as 'the rice bowl of Kerala.' The farmers conveyed him about the issues they face in Kuttanad, lying at the very heart of the backwaters of the Alappuzha district in the State.

Later, the Wayanad MP met representatives of a local committee protesting against sand mining, and received a memorandum from them.

Over 19 days in Kerala, Yatra will cover 7 districts over 450 kilometres, before it commenced in Karnataka on Oct 1.

The all India Padayatra will cover 3,750 km and pass through 12 States and two Union territories in 150 days.