The Congress on Tuesday appealed to every section of society to join its Kanyakumari-to-Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra, which will now begin on September 7 instead of October 2, leveraging on the unmistakable symbolism of the Bharat Chhoro Andolan or Quit India Movement that harbingered the end of British rule.

The Congress’s effort to link its ambitious struggle to the freedom movement is aimed at mobilising all those opposed to RSS-BJP politics, reminding citizens that the political forces that have occupied the nationalist space today have a questionable past in terms of sacrifices made for the country.

The Congress leadership has consistently portrayed its political resistance to the BJP as another struggle to protect democracy and people’s freedoms.

Rahul Gandhi referred to the Quit India Movement to stress the gravity of today’s problems. He posted a message on Facebook on Monday: “The page of history which cannot be forgotten — Bharat Chhoro Andolan. The movement that started on August 8, 1942, in Bombay robbed the British of their sleep. Gandhi gave the ‘do-or-die’ slogan and the last chapter of British rule in India started. A ‘do-or-die’ struggle is needed today against the dictatorial regime; time has come to speak up against injustice. Tanashahi, mahngai aur berozgari ko Bharat chhorna hi hoga (Dictatorship, price rise and unemployment must have no place in India).”

Digvijaya Singh, who is heading the panel overseeing the Bharat Jodo Yatra (Unite India March), said on Tuesday: “Some religious fanatics are disturbing social harmony today. They are vitiating the sanatani tradition of respect for all religions. These are the same forces that sided with the British during the freedom struggle. We hope that the people who believe in the Gandhian philosophy of tolerance, harmony and non-violence will join the Bharat Jodo Yatra.”

Digvijaya travelled to Mumbai on Tuesday to attend a programme where freedom fighter G.G. Parikh gave a call to all those who believe in India’s pluralism and peaceful coexistence to join the Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra.

The party is approaching NGOs, social activists, farmers’ organisations, labour unions and youths to make the Yatra successful.

While announcing the advancement of the Yatra, party communications chief Jairam Ramesh said: “The Indian National Congress appeals to all wanting to be part of a gigantic national endeavour to provide an alternative to the politics of fear, bigotry and prejudice and to the economics of livelihood destruction, increasing unemployment and growing inequalities to participate in the Bharat Jodo Yatra.”

In a separate tweet, Ramesh took a dig at the Sangh parivar, saying: “What do you think RSS was doing 80 years ago on this historic day when Mahatma launched Quit India? It was on the sidelines dissociating itself from the mass movement. Shyama Prasad Mookherjee took no part while Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Azad, Prasad, Pant and many others were jailed.”

He added: “On this day 80 years ago the Indian National Congress under the leadership and inspiration of Mahatma Gandhi launched the ‘Bharat Chhoro’ movement that won our country freedom five years later. Today the Indian National Congress announces the launch of its Kanyakumari to Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra from September 7. This is a padayatra throughout 12 states and two Union Territories.”