Stalin to hand over tri-colour to Rahul ahead of Bharat Jodo Yatra

Before the launch of the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ on September 7, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will take part in a prayer meeting at former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s memorial in Sriperumbudur and attend an event in Kanyakumari where Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin will hand over the national flag to him, sources said on Friday.After the event at the Mahatma Gandhi Mandapam where Stalin will be present, Rahul Gandhi, along with other Congress leaders, will walk to the venue of the public rally where the yatra will be launched.Rahul Gandhi will begin the 3,570-km ‘padayatra’ from Kanyakumari to Srinagar at 7 am on September 8, the sources said.The yatra will reach Kerala on September 11 and will traverse through the state for the next 18 days, reaching Karnataka on September 30.The yatra will remain in Karnataka for 21 days before moving to other states northwards.The party has classified 118 leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, as ‘Bharat Yatris’ who will walk through the distance from Kanyakumari to Srinagar. They will cover on an average 20-25 km a day.Nine leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, out of the 118 ‘Bharat Yatris’ are in the age bracket of 51-60 years, sources said.