Planning Meeting For Setting Up Bharat Jodo Abhiyaan Of Civil Society Organisations

Operational Gist of Meeting on 1st January, 2023

Bharat Jodo Yatra is being perceived to be successful. Our overall assessment is that the Yatra has achieved some of its main objectives. Civil Society Organisation (CSO) participation in the Yatra has been good and effective.

Therefore we are faced with greater challenges and must undertake greater responsibility to meet these challenges. The real task begins after the Yatra is completed. We CSOs also need to think independently and prepare a roadmap for the future.

To meet these challenges, the Yatra needs to be turned into a movement, which has short term and long term objectives. The short term objective is defeating the divisive and disruptive RSS-BJP regime electorally in 2024 Lok Sabha elections, starting with all Assembly elections leading up to 2024. The long term objective is protecting constitutional values and democratic institutions so that the saga of dismantling of the republic as seen under the present regime cannot be repeated.

This movement should be and will be political and we will not shy away from taking stand in electoral politics as well, focussing on all political strengths and alignments that have the potential to defeat the RSS-BJP regime. We shall stress on the macro rather than that micro so that the larger objective is served without hindrance of partisan political interests and conflicts among forces opposed to the RSS-BJP regime.

With this understanding the group decided that:

1. We should hold wider consultations including zoom meetings of all CSO groups and individuals who participated in the Yatra. Avik Saha was given the responsibility of organising this in the next 10 days or so.
2. We should hold a national convention of all those who were involved and who would have liked to be involved in the Yatra. This would include representatives from all states who should be involved in an initiative of this kind. The national convention is proposed to be held in the first week of February but the date shall be finalised in the zoom meetings.
3. The national convention will deliberate and decide upon a plan of action which may include the following:

• (a) Creation of a counter narrative to the hate-divide-disrupt narrative of the RSS-BJP regime, in Indian languages.
• (b) Creation of a network of communication hubs that would disseminate the counter narrative and propagate truth.
• (c) Creation and training of a network of volunteers on a very large scale, focusing on 200 parliamentary constituencies and about 1500 assembly segments. At least 10 volunteers shall be trained per assembly segment who would then become trainers to train at least 10 volunteers on the ground. So 1500 X 10 X 10 = 1,50,000 volunteers shall be trained.
• (d) Explore the possibility of supporting, strengthening and politicising ongoing protests and movements including Kisan Movement and Protest Against Unemployment.
• (e) Creation of mechanisms and institutions to provide institutional base for fostering spirit of harmony and unity, such as Bharat Jodo Kendras.

The national convention may pass resolutions to the above effect. It would also decide on individual pledges that every volunteer shall make to take Bharat Jodo Abhiyan forward.