Bharat Jodo Yatra gives rise to new wave of optimism in Karnataka, says Siddaramaiah
Congress leader thanks Rahul Gandhi, people of Karnataka for Yatra success in state
Bengaluru: With the Congress completing its Bharat Jodo Yatra successfully in Karnataka, leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah has said that the people of Karnataka were grateful to Rahul Gandhi for helping them overcome their differences.
“The Yatra has completed its journey in the state and moved ahead, but the sense of awareness, unity and hope now among the people remains. We will continue the fight to uphold democracy in the country,” Siddaramaiah said, in a press release on Sunday.
“We are fighting against communalism, autocracy, polarization and maladministration. The Yatra has inspired us to raise the issues of the people even more vociferously now,” he said, it is learned.
“The Congress offers its gratitude to all citizens of Karnataka who joined the Bharata Aikyata Yatre (Bharat Jodo Yatra) keeping aside their differences in caste, community and even political party. The people have made the Yatra a huge success, with little children, students, youngsters, ladies, senior citizens, workers, farmers, artistes, soldiers, writers, thinkers, fighters participating in the rally. The aim of the rally to unite the citizens, therefore, has been fulfilled,” said the former chief minister.
The Congress leader is also reported to have thanked Rahul Gandhi for the attempt at uniting India. “Rahul Gandhi started the Bharat Jodo Yatra in an attempt to strongly counter the divisive agenda of the BJP, which has been dissecting the Indian society for its political gain. Karnataka is indebted to Rahul Gandhi for holding the unifying rally. As he predicted, the Yatra went on to become a rally of the citizens of India, instead of remaining a rally of only the Congress,” Siddaramaiah pointed out, adding that the response of citizens in Karnataka was promising.
He also said that the Bharat Jodo Yatra provided an opportunity for the people to learn about Rahul Gandhi from a close front. “There have been continuous attempts to wreck Rahul Gandhi’s character through rumours, lies and even rebuke. The Yatra has taught such ill-wishers what his character actually is,” the Opposition leader said, also stating, “The Bharat Jodo Yatra also provided the Congress an opportunity to learn the needs and even minds of the people.”
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
ISRO successfully conducts second integrated air drop test for Gaganyaan mission
New Delhi (PTI): Space agency ISRO has successfully conducted the second integrated air drop test (IADT-02) for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission at the space station in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota.
The system is essential to ensure a safe recovery of the crew module -- the capsule in which astronauts sit during a human flight -- during re-entry and landing.
Union minister Jitendra Singh congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for successfully conducting the test.
"Congratulations #ISRO for the successful accomplishment of Second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) for #Gaganyaan, India's first Human Space flight scheduled next year. The second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) was successfully conducted at Satish Dhawan Space Station Sriharikota," Singh said in a post on X.
The IADT-02 follows the successful completion of the first IADT, which took place on August 24, 2025, at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
Air drop tests recreate the last leg of a spacecraft's return to Earth. An aircraft or helicopter drops the spacecraft from a height to test various systems under different scenarios.
These are the deployment of the parachute system in case the mission is aborted mid-flight, system performance when one parachute fails to open and the spacecraft's orientation and safety during splashdown etc.
In the IADT-02 test, a simulated crew module, weighing about 5.7 tonnes, was lifted by an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter to an altitude of about three kilometres and released over a designated drop zone in the sea, near the Sriharikota coast.
In a statement, the ISRO said, "Ten parachutes of four types were deployed in a precise sequence during the descent of the crew module, gradually reducing the velocity for safe touchdown. Subsequently, the simulated crew module was successfully recovered in coordination with the Indian Navy."
