Updated February 1st, 2020 at 10:06 IST

Yashwant Sinha laments 22-day Shanti Yatra being drowned out, ponders 'peace vs violence'

Yashwant Sinha said that inciting violence would have helped him grab the headlines but unfortunately, his 'Yatra' was a peaceful one, so media ignored it

Reported by: Varsha Chavan
| Image:self
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Former Minister of Finance of India Yashwant Sinha took a jibe at the national media for lack of coverage of his 22 days long 'Gandhi Shanti Yatra' to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Act. Taking to Twitter, Sinha said that inciting violence would have helped him grab the headlines but unfortunately, his 'Yatra' was a peaceful one and so the media chose to ignore it.

On January 10, NCP President Sharad Pawar flagged off a 21-day long Mumbai-Delhi ''Gandhi Shanti Yatra'' conducted by former BJP leader and Union Minister Yashwant Sinha, in a bid to "save the Constitution" and "protect the people", from the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). 

READ | Can't Ignore States, Anti-CAA Resolutions: Yashwant Sinha

Sinha traveled to Delhi and held a campaign to create awareness against CAA, National Register of Citizens (NRC) the issues of farmers, crimes against women, problems of youth and students, and many others. The commencement of Gandhi Shanti Yatra was attended by Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi President Prakash Ambedkar, senior Congress leaders like Shatrughan Sinha, Prithviraj Chavan, Ashish Deshmukh, Eknath Gaikwad, state minister Nawab Malik and several activists across parties.

READ | Yashwant Sinha Cites Citizenship To Adnan Sami, Sonia Gandhi To Corner Govt Over CAA

About 'Gandhi Shanti Yatra' 

Yashwant Sinha said that the party will "protect the Constitution" drafted by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, and will not allow the "assassination" of Mahatma Gandhi's ideologies. He held a photo of Mahatma Gandhi as he embarked on the 21-day long road trip starting from Gateway of India on January 9 to reach Delhi on January 30. The day marks the 71st death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. While addressing the gathering, Sharad Pawar claimed that CAA would be a threat to India's integrity. He stated that many people will not be able to prove their citizenship and would face an uncertain future. The belief has created major unrest among the people and they are demonstrating against it on the streets every day, he added.

READ | NCP's Yashwant Sinha Launches Mumbai-Delhi 'Gandhi Shanti Yatra' To Oppose CAA

Citing the recent JNU violence, the 79-year-old leader went on to say that many people in power made attempts to suppress the agitations against CAA. In order to change the nation's current situation, it was crucial to follow the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi, as many raised voices condemning the JNU violence and other major issues around the country, he added. Prakash Ambedkar alleged that the RSS is working towards its agenda in the country that will hamper the Constitution. He had invited the people to save the Constitution and the country. He further congratulated Yashwant Sinha for his decision to lead the ''Gandhi Shanti Yatra.'' 

READ | Yashwant Sinha's 'Gandhi Shanti Yatra' Names Sharad Pawar Congress Chief, Twitter Responds

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Published February 1st, 2020 at 10:06 IST