Congress leadership at Gandhiji's Wardha ashram, to launch poll campaign
Nagpur, Oct 1 : Top Congress leadership, including party chief Rahul Gandhi, has converged at the historic Sevagram Ashram in Wardha in Maharashtra amid indications that it will launch its 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign on Tuesday, coinciding with Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary, party officials said.
Rahul Gandhi, his mother Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other party leaders will pay homage at the Bapu Kutir in the Sevagram Ashram on Tuesday morning, attend a prayer meeting and then hold a special Congress Working Committee meeting at the nearby Mahadev Bhavan.
The Congress chief will also garland a statue of Mahatma Gandhi near the District Collectorate, take out a foot march (padyatra) and address a rally at the Circus Ground in the town.
An AICC leader said that the events are significant as it was the venue where the CWC met in 1942 under Gandhiji's leadership to launch the 'Quit India Movement' of August 8, 1942, which ultimately saw the collapse of the British rule after five years.
"We are now celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Bapu and also the 70th year of India's independence. So, we are holding a CWC meeting here," AICC Secretary and legislator Harshawardhan Sakpal told the media.
Addressing the media, AICC Spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala launched an attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
He alleged that the RSS and Pakistan are "on the same page in propagating hatred, divisions and violence among the people", and that the BJP government was engaging in polarising people on communal, caste and regional lines.
"During the British Raj, the country's plurality was under threat because of 'divide-and-rule policy'... now, the policies of the BJP government are on similar lines.
"As the country secured freedom under the stewardship of Mahatma Gandhi, we will free the country of the BJP under Rahul Gandhi's leadership," Surjewala said.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said that the world's biggest 'charkha' or spinning wheel will be unveiled outside Sevagram Ashram complex.
The approximately 31-feet X 19-feet charkha will be bigger than that installed at the Delhi airport, he said.
Mungantiwar said that government will get prepared 206 saplings of a 'peepal' tree, the sapling of which was planted here in 1936 by Gandhiji, and plant them at 206 Martyrs Memorials in Maharashtra to mark the sesquicentennial.
The government also plans to release 101 prisoners from various jails, including 28 from Mumbai's Arthur Road Central and Raigad's Aloja Central Jail on Tuesday.
Gandhiji had spent around 10 years at the Sevagram Ashram, or the 'Village of Service'.
The 'Bapu Kutir', the tiny hut where he lived, is now a mecca for students, academics, researchers, domestic and foreign tourists and Gandhians.
The Sevagram Ashram is spread over 400 acres and houses other prominent institutions like Nai Talim Samiti, Mahatma Gandhi Seva Sangh, Akhil Bharatiya Seva Sangh and Kasturba Health Society.
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Anyone speaking in favour of Pakistan is wrong, it amounts to treason: Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said that anyone speaking in favour of Pakistan is wrong and it amounts to treason.
He however said that inquiry is on in connection with alleged "mob lynching" of a man, accused of of shouting 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogan, in Mangaluru.
"If the Pakistan Zindabad slogan was shouted, it is wrong, whoever it is. Inquiry is still going on, a case has been registered, let the report come. It will be clear as to what action should be taken against whom," Siddaramaiah said, responding to a question by reporters on killing of a person in Mangaluru allegedly for shouting 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogan.
"If anyone speaks in favour of Pakistan, it is wrong, it is treason," he added.
Home Minister G Parameshwara said, a person was "lynched" in Mangaluru, and while interogating those behind the incident, they have claimed that the victim shouted 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogan.
"It is being further investigated. Only those arrested said this. Nearly 20 people have been arrested now. Police are also finding out about the person (deceased) and his origins. We have taken the incident seriously. Further investigations are on and there were many people who had gone to play the cricket match. They are all being questioned to gather information. Investigation is very serious," he said.
When asked if the deceased person was from Kerala's Wayanad, Parameshwara said, there is such information and it needs to be verified, by establishing his identity and contacting his parents.
To a question, were there any failure on the part of the police as there are reports that they allegedly tried to project it as suicide initially, he said, "We have no such information. If any such thing is there it will come out from the investigation. If any police failures are identified, appropriate action will be taken,"
The Home Minister assured that the case has been taken seriously and there should be no apprehensions that it is being taken lightly.
However, according to police, the deceased has been identified as Ashraf from Pulpalli village in Sultan Bathery Taluk of Wayanad district in Kerala.
The incident had happened during a local cricket match near the Bhatra Kallurti temple in Kudupu village on the outskirts of Mangaluru, on April 27, police said.
Ashraf was allegedly assaulted with sticks, resulting in multiple injuries that led to internal bleeding and shock, police said adding he was declared dead at the hospital.
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