Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the message of this Dandi Yatra held in the 75th year of Independence is the creation of Aatm-Nirbhar India and commitment of all of us towards it. It is my great privilege that I am getting the opportunity to join this Dandi Yatra today, organised in the memory of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi's Dandi Salt Satyagraha.
The Chief Minister said that the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, brought freedom to the country, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel united the country and now the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is building a Aatm-Nirbhar India. Today, through this Dandi Yatra, we all resolve to build a Aatm-Nirbhar India.
Chouhan on Thursday attended the "Amrut Festival of Independence", held at Chaparbhata village, in Surat district of Gujarat. Raman Lal Patkar, Minister of Forest and Tribal Welfare, Gujarat, Member of Parliament Darshana Ben etc were present.
The Chief Minister said that on March 12, 1930, the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, started the Dandi Yatra Salt Satyagraha from Sabarmati Ashram and on April 6, after reaching Dandi Navsari, picked up a handful of salt and broke the ban imposed on salt by the British rule. The salt is a symbol of loyalty, patriotism and in today's context, it is a symbol of self-reliance. At that time, Gandhiji resolved to liberate the country through the Dandi Yatra, today, through the Dandi Yatra led by our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, we are taking a resolution, to build a Aatm-Nirbhar India.
Chouhan said that in the history of 1000 years of the world, there has been no personality like Mahatma Gandhiji, who has given freedom to the country through non-violence. We did not get freedom from the British easily. On one hand there was Gandhiji's non-violent movement, and on the other hand, thousands of revolutionaries sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country.
The Chief Minister said that from the very day that the Prime Minister, Narendra Modiji, announced the creation of a Aatm-Nirbhar India, the construction of Aatm-Nirbhar Madhya Pradesh in Madhya Pradesh has been going on fast. First of all, the development road map was prepared and now it is being implemented with promptness. Aatm-Nirbhar India is a Mantra for us. We will fulfill it with full devotion, effort and dedication.
Chouhan said that Gujarat has given great personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Vallabhbhai Patel and Narendra Modi to our country. Chouhan said that during his visit to Gujarat, he has performed Darshan and Pujan of Mother Narmada and Maa Tapti, this morning. Both the rivers originate from Madhya Pradesh, flow in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat and connect both the states with hearts.