Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 7 (IANS): India is collapsing because of rising economic inequality and social polarisation, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said here on Wednesday.

In Kerala's capital city for the Bharat Jodo Yatra, he said that the nationwide yatra will cover a distance of 3,750 Kms from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. It will prove to be a turning point in Indian politics and mark a 'new beginning'.

On the need of this yatra, the veteran leader told IANS that economic disparity, social polarisation and political concentration are among the reasons which has led the nation to collapse. Hence a yatra of this magnitude was needed.

"In Udaipur, after intense deliberations, we concluded that economic challenges like inequalities, unemployment and inflation are on a rise. The manner in which GST has been implemented has added salt to the wounds. Tenders are only being given to one or two companies on the line of "Hum Do Hamare Do" policy which is widening the disparity.

"Social polarisation is being done in the name of religion, caste and language. And thirdly, it is the political centralisation as the whole politics is being done from the Prime Minister Office. All power has been shifted to the PMO. They are bypassing the constitutional norms and misusing the central agencies. These are the three reasons that today Bharat is collapsing that's why the Yatra has been undertaken" Ramesh said.

On allegations by BJP, he said that the party does not pay heed to it. They always talk of Pakistan and never about their own country India. They will keep criticising but this is the time for the political transformation, he said.

"Congress is a political party but the yatra has nothing to do with the 2024 polls. But the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', will help the Congress get strengthened at grassroots and organisational levels.