The Congress launched the Kashmiri version of its Bharat Jodo Yatra theme song at Srinagar on Saturday, as its leader and Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi stepped into the final lap of the Yatra. He paid tributes to the slain CRPF jawans who were killed in 2019 at Lethpora, Pulawama.

Rahul Gandhi was joined by his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at Awantipora. Former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also walked with Rahul Gandhi on Saturday. According to a report in The Hindu “The Congress party, which had alleged that “security arrangements collapsed” on Gandhi’s arrival in Kashmir’s Qazigund on Friday, expressed satisfaction on the upscaling of security measures.”

On Saturday there was a thick blanket of security in place as Rahul Gandhi walked, paused to meet and greet people, along the way. As has been a trademark for the yatra which began in Kanyakumari and will end in Srinagar, many locals lined up along the route, some with flags, others bringing their children to see the event.

According to news reports ADGP Vijay Kumar said, “We’re giving three-tier protection, and all security arrangements have been made. Bharat Jodo yatra is going on smoothly. Traffic has also been diverted, there won’t be any problem. No security lapses happened yesterday.”

According to the Indian Express Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah with regard to the security arrangements for the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir. On Friday, the Yatra had been suspended for a while after an alleged “security lapse”. It was alleged by the Congress that there were no Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel around Rahul Gandhi when there were massive crowds joining the Yatra at Qazigund.

“I shall be grateful if you could personally intervene in this matter and advise the officials concerned to provide adequate security till the culmination of the Yatra and the function on January 30 at Srinagar,” wrote the Congress president.

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BASIT ZARGAR