Congress Justice March Begins August 9: From Morbi to Gandhinagar via Rajkot, Ending on August 22; Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi May Join

In the wake of recent tragedies such as the Morbi bridge collapse and the Rajkot fire, the Gujarat Congress will organize a justice march. The march, dubbed the “Nyay Yatra,” will commence on August 9, 2024, marking the Revolution Day. 

The procession will start in Morbi and conclude in Gandhinagar. During the legislative session, questions will also be raised in the assembly regarding justice for the affected families. The 300-kilometer march will cover the distance from Morbi to Gandhinagar, and various national and regional leaders are expected to join. Participants will be categorized as “Nyay Yatris” (justice marchers), “District Yatris” (those joining from their districts), and “Atithi Yatris.”

Congress to Launch Protest March Against BJP

The Congress party will commence its protest march from Morbi, proceeding through Rajkot, Surendranagar, Ahmedabad, and ultimately reaching Gandhinagar. This march is being labeled as Part One of the campaign, with plans to launch additional stages to address the victims of other incidents in the coming days. 

Notably, the Congress will carry a symbolic pot during the march, which will be used for people to submit their grievances and demands. The pot will be referred to as the “BJP’s Sin Pot,” where individuals will voice their issues, and the pot will be broken at the end to signify that the BJP’s sins have accumulated.

Congress to Undertake Long March for Justice: Lalji Desai Announces

Lalji Desai, National President of the Congress Seva Dal, has announced that the justice march will commence on August 9, marking the beginning of a revolutionary movement from Morbi. The march aims to address the grievances of families affected by the Morbi bridge collapse and the Rajkot fire. 

Starting from the Morbi suspension bridge, the procession will kick off at 9 AM with the national flag being hoisted. The route will cover Tankara, Gauridad, and Ratanpar, before moving on to Surendranagar on August 13. From Surendranagar, the march will proceed to Chotila, Viramgam, Sanand, and Ahmedabad, culminating at the Gandhi Ashram before reaching Gandhinagar. 

Daily flag hoisting will be part of the march, which will also include addressing the victims of various other incidents across Gujarat, such as the Takshashila scandal, Harni boat tragedy, and Rajkot TRP fire. Around 100 participants will walk 20 to 25 kilometers each day, while others will join at the district or regional level. Various national and regional leaders are also expected to participate in the march.

Congress March to Reach Rajkot on August 11 and Surendranagar on August 15

Lalji Desai further detailed the schedule of the march, stating that the journey will begin from Morbi on the morning of August 9, proceeding through Tankara and Gauridad. The march is set to arrive in Rajkot by the evening of August 11, where a condolence meeting will be held at the TRP Games Zone. 

On August 12, the march will continue through the main roads of Rajkot and head towards Surendranagar. The march will reach Surendranagar on August 15, coinciding with Independence Day, where a flag hoisting ceremony will be conducted. 

Following Surendranagar, the march will proceed to Ahmedabad and is expected to reach Gandhinagar around August 22 or 23. The march will carry a symbolic pot, named the “BJP’s Sin Pot,” where participants can present their questions and grievances.

Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi May Join the Justice March

Leaders from across the country are expected to join the justice march from Morbi to Gandhinagar. Invitations have been extended to Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi to participate in the march, and there is a possibility that they may join at some point along the route. The march will be welcomed at various locations, but instead of traditional drumming, it will be greeted with the sound of traditional sutra.

Jignesh Mevani Accuses Government of Protecting BJP Leaders and Officials

Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani has criticized the government’s handling of the investigation into the TRP Games Zone incident, accusing the BJP government of being deeply involved in corruption and failing to meet the demands of the affected families. 

He alleged that the government has shielded BJP leaders and officials, resulting in a compromised investigation. According to Mevani, the authorities have been given clean chit despite the evidence, and there will be no impartial inquiry unless non-corrupt officials are included in the investigation committee. 

He emphasized that the government is covering for BJP officials and stated that the fight for justice for the victims will continue as long as necessary. Mevani highlighted that all IAS and IPS officers are protecting one another, and despite the names of BJP officials being provided, no arrests have been made. He criticized the government for its indifference to the tragedies in Morbi and Rajkot, accusing it of a lack of genuine concern for the victims.

Morbi Bridge Collapse, Morbi

On October 30, 2022, the suspension bridge over the Machhu River in Morbi collapsed, resulting in the deaths of 135 people, including children and women. The accused in this case face charges under IPC Sections 304, 308, 336, 337, 338, and 114. 

The defendants include Jaysukh Patel, CMD of Oreva Company, and two managers, Dinesh Dave and Deepak Parekh, as well as Devang Parmar and Prakash Parmar of Dev Prakash Solutions, who were responsible for the bridge repairs, along with three security guards and two ticket clerks. 

The charges have been framed, and subsequent hearings are ongoing in the Morbi court. All accused have been granted bail, with nine receiving bail from the High Court and Jaysukh Patel from the Supreme Court.

Fire Incident, Rajkot

On the evening of May 25, at around 5:30 PM, a devastating fire broke out at the TRP Games Zone near Sayaji Hotel on Kalavad Road in Rajkot. Fire brigade teams and local police quickly arrived at the scene. 

The fire brigade managed to control the blaze using water. Upon conducting a search, 27 bodies were discovered inside. Within just 55 minutes, 24 bodies were transported to the Civil Hospital. The condition of the bodies was so severe that DNA tests were required to identify them, and samples had to be airlifted to Gandhinagar via air ambulance.

Within 24 hours of the incident, five JCB machines from the Rajkot Municipal Corporation were used to demolish the entire Games Zone to destroy evidence. The area where the Games Zone once stood has now been converted into an open field. Despite the demolition, human remains were still found, which were subsequently moved to the Civil Hospital for DNA testing.