‘Gandhi Sankalpa Yatra’, the 150-km padayatra launched by the BJP in Shivamogga parliamentary seat limits to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, commenced in Esur village where the people had staged an uprising against the British rule, on Thursday.
D.H. Shankaramurthy, former Chairman of the Legislative Council, who flagged off the padayatra said that the independence struggle under Mahatma Gandhi was unique as it employed peace and non-violence as the weapons to humble the British. The leadership qualities and the organising skills displayed by Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom movement were exemplary, he said.
B.Y. Raghavendra, Shivamogga MP, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target of abolishing single-use plastic in India by the year 2022. As part of the padayatra, awareness sessions on the detrimental effects of single-use plastic on the environment would be held in the villages, he added.
Prior to the commencement of the padayatra, N.S. Hucharayappa, who was jailed for four years for participating in the freedom movement, was felicitated. The BJP leaders also paid floral tribute to the memorial in Esur village constructed to commemorate five freedom fighters - Gurappa, Jinahalli Mallappa, Suryanarayanachar, Badakalli Halappa and Gowdru Shankarappa - who were hanged by the British government. Saplings were planted on the premises of the memorial.
