The 180-km “Tiranga Yatra” (Tricolour march) by tribal activist and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Soni Sori in Chhattisgarh has continued despite many alleged attempts to intimidate her and create problems for the rally’s participants.
The Tiranga Yatra, which began on August 9, will conclude at Gompad village in Sukma district on August 15 with the unfurling of the Indian national flag by tribal activists.
Gompad falls in the area of the district considered to be “Maoist territory”.
Organisers of the rally have claimed that attempts are being made to ensure that the march does not reach Gompad on Independence Day.
Ms. Sori and her nephew, Lingaram Kodopi, have been asked to be present in Jagdalpur court every single day from August 9 to August 28 in relation to a case against them.
“I go along with the Yatra in the morning. By afternoon, I reach court. Again, by evening, I go back and join the Yatra,” Ms. Sori told The Hindu .
On Thursday, she said that some unknown men tried to “intimidate and attack” her when she was travelling to Jagdalpur from Dantewada along with Mr. Kodopi, her bodyguards, and journalists. “Three vehicles started following us near the area where a chemical attack was made on me in February this year. The men in the vehicles were policemen in plainclothes and had weapons with them. They abused us and tried to attack us. We somehow managed to escape. It was clearly an attempt to delay me for my court proceedings,” she said.
According to local sources, these vehicles were seen entering Kodenar police station.
CPI (Maoist) spokesperson Vikalp has welcomed the Yatra, but has opposed the move to unfurl the Indian national flag.
Controversial IPS officer and Bastar police chief Mr. S.R.P. Kalluri said, “According to me, this is a change of heart of the Maoists. They usually celebrate Independence Day as a black day and unfurl black flags. But if somebody is going to unfurl the national flag (in Maoist areas) and if the Maoists’ spokesperson has issued a statement supporting it then it is clearly visible that the Maoists have started believing in democracy.”
