Thousands of youngsters to recite the Preamble of Constitution at India Gate on Nov 25
New Delhi, Nov 22: In a special initiative to raise awareness about the Constitution, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday said that over 10,000 youngsters will participate in a 5.5-kilometer padyatra in the national capital on November 25.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution, which was adopted on November 26, 1949.
Organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the padyatra named "Mera sambhidhav mera swabhiman", will see the young participants recite the Preamble of the Constitution at India Gate, as part of a broader effort to engage the nation’s youth with the foundational principles of the Constitution.
Over 10000 participants, aged 15-29, from over 125 educational institutions have already been registered for the event through the 'MYBharat' portal.
The event will start at 8:30 am from the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium and pass through several key locations in the city, including Garvi Gandhi Bhawan, Sunehri Masjid, and Mansingh Road, before concluding at the stadium around 11 am.
Mandaviya highlighted that the padyatra is a significant step towards fostering leadership and raising constitutional awareness among young people.
"This padyatra aims to encourage youth to understand and embrace the Constitution. It will also help in developing leadership skills and capacity building," Mandaviya said.
The minister further emphasised the importance of such marches, citing the recent 'Mati ke Veer Padyatra,' where youth not only spread messages on cleanliness and fitness but also organised the entire event, learning key leadership lessons in the process.
The Minister said the march aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to increase youth's participation in shaping India's future.
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Activists write open letter to Odisha govt flagging anti-Christian violence
New Delhi: Activists and rights campaigners John Dayal, Aakar Patel, Vidya Dinker and Harsh Mander have expressed serious concern over the alleged rise in violence and intimidation against Christians in several districts, accusing both Hindutva organisations and sections of the police of targeting the minority community.
In a strongly worded communication addressed to the state administration, the signatories said they had received disturbing testimonies from affected people regarding social boycott, denial of burial rights, physical assaults and police intimidation.
According to the activists, Christians in some areas were allegedly boycotted by villagers, while people who traded with them, employed them or provided them shelter were also targeted.
The letter also highlighted what it described as “gruesome” incidents involving the prevention of burials of Christians within village burial grounds and even on privately owned lands belonging to Christian families. The activists said there were cases where bodies remained unburied for days due to opposition from local groups, while in some instances burials were allegedly forced to take place in forest areas outside village limits. Funeral prayers were also reportedly disrupted.
The signatories further alleged that in certain districts the violence escalated into physical assaults on Christians. They claimed that some victims were tied to trees and beaten, while others were allegedly placed inside sacks and assaulted. The letter also mentioned a few reported instances of sexual violence and attempts to burn people alive, which, according to them, were stopped at the last moment.
Expressing particular concern, the activists said many victims had testified that police personnel joined hands with Hindutva organisations to force Christians into signing “compromise” agreements. These agreements allegedly required them to give up their faith and stop collective worship.
The letter also accused the police of registering serious criminal cases against victims of attacks instead of taking action against the attackers. According to the signatories, many of those attacked were detained in police stations and jails, while in some cases the police themselves allegedly played a direct role in intimidation and violence against Christians.
Stating that there appeared to be a “complete breakdown in the constitutional machinery of the state” in relation to Christian minorities, the activists urged the administration to uphold and protect the constitutional and religious rights of all citizens without discrimination based on religion, caste or creed.
The letter was signed by John Dayal, Aakar Patel, Vidya Dinker and Harsh Mander.
