Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman led the BJP’s Gandhi Sankalp Yatra to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in Chennai on Thursday morning with a short padayatra along with nearly 200-250 party workers. The walk was also held to remember Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary.
The walk was to conclude the Gandhi Sankalp Yatra organised by the BJP this month across the State. Ms. Sitharaman led the padayatra from the Aminjakarai market to T.P. Chatram, walking through some waterlogged places along the route.
The Finance Minister also paid a floral tribute to a photo of Sardar Patel at Gajapathi Street. Though the organisers had set up a stage at T.P. Chatram for her to deliver a speech, Ms. Sitharaman left the venue without speaking.
Earlier Ms. Sitharaman tweeted “Participating in the #Gandhi Sankalp Yatra #Gandhi150 in Chennai today. Also remembering #SardarPatel on his birthday. In the services they both rendered for India, each did with striking simplicity”.
Actor Gautami and senior leaders of the State BJP unit also took part in the event. Most of the male BJP cadre were seen wearing a shirt and dhoti, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's attire during the informal summit with Chinese president Xi Xinping at Mamallapuram earlier this month.
