With an aim to promoting brotherhood, unity and integrity in the society, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that the SP government was spreading the Ganga-Jamuni 'tehzeeb' to other parts of the country by opening a window of opportunity for students to interact with people of other states.
"My government is doing everything to promote unity and integrity in the country. We do not have resources but have ideas on linking one state with the other, culturally,” Yadav told reporters in lucknow on Sunday.
Yadav was speaking after flagging off a 'Sadbhavna Yatra' of school children, who would be visiting Jammu and Kashmir from May 22 to May 30. Senior UP government officials were present at the function held at the official residence of the CM.
"Such yatras are our tradition. Children visiting Jammu and Kashmir are our cultural messengers. They will spread the Ganga Jamuni tehzeeb of UP and will also learn more about Kashmir and its culture,” Yadav said.
The CM said such yatras would strengthen the country's unity and integrity and pave way for peace and brotherhood in the society.
“Our aim is to expose these children to the diversity of India. They should understand the spirit of unity in diversity which we politicians always advocate." the Chief Minister said.
Replying to a query, Yadav said that the SP will return to power in UP in 2017. People will not be swayed by false promises of `achche din’. They have seem how a party has fooled them. Achche din is now just a mirage," he said.
The Sadhavana yatra is a scheme of UP government mooted by Akhilesh Yadav and this was a pilot project. Around 35 students from class 9 to 12 from government schools have been selected for the yatra on the basis of their talent in academics, sports or any cultural discipline.
During their sojourn, the students will also visit the Army base and will stay with the local people. A cultural troupe is also accompanying these students which will perform at a function scheduled in Srinagar.
The students were excited about this yatra. In the morning they had a meeting with Chief Minister where he told them about the virtue of this journey. “I am happy to be a part of this mission. I will learn a lot about Kashmir and we will tell people of Kashmir about specialties of Uttar Pradesh,” Naseeb Jung from Azamgarh said.