To demonstrate their conviction against blind beliefs, Satish Jarkiholi, former Minister, and fellow activists from the Manava Bandhutva Vedike slept on the ground in the Sadashiv Nagar graveyard in Belagavi on Wednesday night.
They had spent a whole day observing Dr. Ambedkar’s death anniversary as anti-blind belief day in the graveyard. By evening, they had listened to speeches by activists and watched cultural programmes by folk artists and youth associations.
They ate lunch in the pandal put up in the empty space in the graveyard and spent the evening drinking tea and chatting with activists who had gathered from around the State.
By late evening, there was still a large group left in the graveyard. They spread out mats and began sleeping in rows.
Mr. Jarkiholislept along with them. Wilfred D’souza, Vedike general secretary, Nagaraj Yadav, Congress leader and BMTC Chairman, and others joined him.
In the light of criticism that he had slept in his car after promising to sleep in the graveyard last year, Mr. Jarkiholi announced on Wednesday that he would sleep in the graveyard.
However, some leaders are not happy with him. Shankar Munavalli, Congress leader, has said that organising the event amounted to insulting Dr. Ambedkar. He has asked the party to act against Mr. Jarkiholi.
