No yatra can ‘hatao’ Modi: Devendra Fadnavis

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan and Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Medak Sunday. Pic/ANI

As Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra was about to enter Maharashtra on Monday night, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called it an ‘Opposition Jodo Yatra,' and said it would have no effect on national and state politics. "It's Modi Hatao Yatra. Whoever in the opposition comes together, will not be able to remove Modi, because he (the PM) has a place in the people's hearts," said Fadnavis in response to a question on whether Gandhi's march would be effective politically.

He said his government would ensure that Gandhi's Yatra was conducted in a proper way and the events held in a legal manner. "All arrangements will be made during the yatra till it enters the neighbouring state. We will also ensure that the events are conducted as per the law."

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He dismissed an allegation that celebrities were influenced against joining Gandhi.

Gandhi was expected to enter Maharashtra from Telangana at Degloor on Monday night. Hundreds of Congress workers and leaders had gathered at the site by evening to welcome the leader. Gandhi was expected to take out a mashal march to a gurudwara in Degloor where Guru Nanak Jayanti celebration was to be held from midnight.

On November 10, Gandhi will reach Nanded city where he will address his first public rally in the state. The second big rally has been scheduled at Shegaon on November 18. He will cross over to Madhya Pradesh on November 20.