Thousands of supporters paid floral tribute to their departed leaders as third phase of Congress’ Balidani Maati Kalash Yatra commenced from Nandeli village, native place of the sitting CGPCC president Nandkumar Patel who was killed in May 25 Maoist attack on Congress convoy at Jeeram valley near Darbha along with 30 others including his son Dinesh Patel, former Union Minister V C Shukla, formers State Minister Mahendra Karma, former MlA Udai Mudliyar and others.
All India Congress Committee General Secretary and Chhattisgarh in-charge B K Hari Prasad, Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee acting president Charandas Mahant, CGPCC programme coordinator Bhupesh Baghel, Patel’s son Umesh, Congress MlA Dr Shakrajit Nayak, Hridayaram Rathia, Mrs Padma Ghanshyam Manhar and a large number of other Congress were present on this occasion.
Umesh Patel brought the urn filled with Balidani Maati to the Shradhanjali Sabha Sthal accompanied by large number of villager and supporters of Patel where people paid floral tribute to Patel and other martyrs killed in the Maoist attack. Hari Prasad, Mahant and others also spoke on the occasion remembering late Nandkumar Patel and his contribution in the Party.
.Umesh Patel, the younger son of the slain CGPCC president, thanked people as well as party leaders for giving support and affection in the time of such a great crisis which provided him the strength to bear the loss of his father and brother. later, the Kalash Yatra left for Kharasia.