The ₹250 crore elevated road linking road near Ambedkar Circle and Sodala was inaugurated in October 2022 when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was in its first leg of Bharat Jodo yatra. The then chief minister Ashok Gehlot named this elevated road Bharat Jodo Setu and dedicated it to Rahul Gandhi's yatra.
Bharat does not exist just between Sodala and road in front of Ambedkar Circle. So there is no relevance of the name – Bharat Jodo Setu – as christened by then Congress government. The immediate aim was to gain political mileage as well as make Rahul Gandhi happy who was entering Rajasthan on his way into the yatra.
“This has just become a living testimony to the yatra which Rahul Gandhi had carried out. Rajasthan government not only funded it but also made the yatra immortal,” said a BJP worker.
The BJP government had earlier changed the name of subsidised food scheme -Indira Rasoi – to Shri Annapurna Rasoi Yojana. Similarly the name of popular health insurance scheme – Mukhya Mantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana – has also been changed to Mukhya Mantri Ayushman Arogya Yojana.
“The board at the entry of road remembers the commuters Rahul Gandhi's yatra. He is in its second of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. The road is a living hoarding of his yatra at the cost of exchequer,” said Nishikant Singh, a BJP worker.
While there is clamour for change of name of the elevated road among BJP workers and public, there is no such consideration in the government. According to sources, there is as of now, no proposal for changing name is being considered.
”The Bharat Jodo Setu has become a landmark and it will give a reminisce of Rahul Gandhi's yatra always. While there is no connection with Rahul Gandhi or Bharat Jodo yatra with this elevated road, the Congress government tactfully used the name to make Rahul Gandhi happy and make it immortal,” said Rajanivesh Sharma, a political commentator.
Ram Kumar Kaushik is a seasoned journalist with over 25 years of experience across mediums. The architect of this news website, he is also a consultant with several media groups. He was formerly the group managing editor of ITV Network (NewsX, India News and The Sunday Guardian) and its digital products.
