NEW YORK (TIP): The Indian Overseas Congress ( IOC) USA conducted a UNITY WALK in NEW YORK from Times Square (47th St & Steps) to Union Square (Gandhi Statue) on Sunday, October 30th at 3:00 PM. The NEW YORK Yatra ( Walk) has been inspired by Bharat Jodo Yatra, currently in progress, led by Shri. Rahul Gandhi emphasized unity and peace in India and the sub-continent.
Dr. Sam Pitroda, Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, flagged off the unity walk from 47th St and 7th Ave. Around 300 or more members from the Diaspora walked via fifth Ave all the way to Union Square, where the Mahatma Gandhi statue was garlanded. In his concluding remarks, Mr. Pitroda urged India to continue to be led by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and respect the ideals of Democracy, Freedom, Human Rights, Justice, Equality, inclusion, and related values and wisdom outlined in the Indian Constitution.
Speaking with The Indian Panorama, Sam said that the idea behind Unity Walk is to really bring in focus. larger issues related to unity, democracy, freedom. Inspiration for the walk “really comes from Rahul Ji”, he said. Sam said: “In India the Bharat Jodo yatra is going through right now, which is 3500 kilometers, 150 days and anywhere from 50 to 100,000 people join him every day. We thought there is a message in that Yatra which needs to be conveyed to larger audience. Problems are the same everywhere in the world today. World is going through a very difficult time partly because of Ukraine war partly inflation, economy,unemployment, and the roots really lie in polarized politics violence, a sort of drifting away from democratic values, a little more authoritarian attitude.
And it is not just visible in India. It is visible in many parts of the world. We had part of that during Trump’s time. World is going through one of the most difficult periods I would say in last 80 years.Our world needs to be redesigned, the senior Congress leader said. Indian Overseas Congress organized the Unit walk under the leadership of Mr. Mohinder Singh Gilzian (President), George Abraham (Vice-Chair), Pradeep Samala (Chairman, unity Walk committee), Harbachan Singh (Secretary-General), Gurmit Gill, Leela Maret, Rajeswar Reddy, Ram Gadula, Gulshan and many others. IOC USA declared solidarity with all initiatives that uphold the country’s constitution according to the organizers.