On Mahatma Gandhi 150th birth anniversary, political parties in the State tried to vie for the Mahatma’s legacy. While, the BJP on the occasion gave a call to ban single use plastic, the Congress party took out a ‘padyatra’ (foot march) claiming to be the rightful heir of Gandhi.
Congress State president Rameshwar Oraon and State Congress in-charge RPN Singh on Wednesday led a ‘padyatra’ here with a large number of supporters following them to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at historic Morhabadi ground.
The Congress’ ‘Gandhi Sandesh Yatra’ on Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th began at Birsa Munda Samadhi Sthal, Kokar and headed to Gandhi’s statue, about six kilometers away with, enthusiastic party workers waving flags and chanting slogans ‘Mahatma Gandhi Amar Rahein’, ‘Bapu hum sharminda hain, tere qatil zinda hain’. After covering the distance of 6 kilometer on foot under the scorching Sun, the Congress leaders paid floral tributes to Bapu at Morhabadi ground.
State Congress in-charge RPN Singh said, “On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, I can only say that his message of love and brotherhood, tolerance is much relevant today.”
On Congress party poll preparation for year-end Assembly election, Singh said, “The Congress is very much in favor of alliance and the real shape of alliance will be known to media soon.” Singh, the Congress senior leader from Uttar Pradesh said that it doesn’t matter who (Congress or JMM) plays the role of big brother in alliance, but real issue is that we have to throw out Raghubar Das Government.
The Congress leaders were also much enthusiastic. Lal Prem Prakash Nath Shahdeo, a State Congress leader said, “The Congress workers attending the rally were enthusiastic. The Congress workers from Kokar walked behind their leaders chanting slogans of Bapu. Apart from Congress leaders, large number of common people too was part of padyatra.” The Congress padyatra attraction was 1940 Ford car on which senior Congress leaders took a short ride. The vehicle owned by State Congress leader Aditya Vikram Jaiswal was used by Gandhi, who had travelled in the Ford car from Ranchi to Ramgarh for attending Congress convention in 1940.
While the Congress celebrated the Gandhi Jayanti through padyatra, the BJP observed the day with call to ban the single use plastic. The State BJP on the occasion has assigned the task to all its MPs to create awareness against single use plastic.
State BJP secretary, Subodh Singh Guddu said, “The BJP celebrated Gandhi Jayanti with Bapu’s message on cleanness and hygiene. The BJP cadres and leaders in all 17 mandals of BJP Mahanagar unit collected plastic and requested people not to use single use plastic.”
The BJP leader claimed that such awareness drive will continue in future. The BJP call against single use plastic assume importance as the Jharkhand Government from today (October 2) introduced a ban on single-use plastic items at Jharkhand government offices. The rule will be implemented at all such offices, which are either directly or indirectly under control of the State Government. According to the directions issued by the state government, the offices will have to make arrangements for collecting plastic waste separately so that it could be disposed of in a proper way.
The JMM also celebrated Gandhi Jayanti with its leaders including JMM chief Shibu Soren and JMM executive president Hemant Soren paying tributes to Bapu at Gandhi Sthal at Morhabadi.
Hemant said, “Today is special day as it coincides with the birth of two great personalities (Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri).” Replying on corruption charges levelled by Chief Minister Raghubar Das, Soren said, “On this auspicious day sitting near Gandhi statue I will not tell lies. I have not done anything wrong. But at the same time a person sitting at top constitutional post should avoid telling lies.”