Gandhi Sankalp Yatra: BJP leaders traverse city streets

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 14

Members of the BJP, led by party's state president Shawait Malik, today led a Gandhi Sankalp Yatra from Company Bagh in Jalandhar to other areas to commemorate the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary year.

The yatra was taken out as per the BJP’s ‘Man Mein Bapu’ programme, in which leaders of the BJP – former Cabinet minister Manoranjan Kalia, district president Ramesh Pabbi, BJP leaders KD Bhandari, Mohinder Bhagat, state general secretary Rakesh Rathour, Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha state president Sunny Sharma among others were present.

The yatra passed through Jyoti Chowk, inner city bazaars and Milap Chowk before concluding at Company Bagh Chowk.

Malik said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in keeping with the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, introduced the Swacchta Abhiyaan taking his teaching to every home. On the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, we pledge to follow in his footsteps."

BJP president Amit Shah had flagged off the Sankalp Yatra from Shalimar Bagh in Delhi on October 2. The yatra has been held in party units across the country where workers and leaders have held marches to spread the message of Mahatma Gandhi.

While BJP senior leaders, activists as well as members of the BJP Yuva Morcha participated in the yatra, a scuffle ensued amidst the party members before the arrival of state president Shwait Malik. A war of words took place between BJP Yuva Morcha leader Sunny Sharma and former Cabinet minister Manoranjan Kalia while photographs were being clicked.

While Sharma stepped in front of leaders Manoranjan Kalia, KD Bhandari and Mohinder Bhagat while they walked holding the banner of the Sankalp Yatra and being clicked by shutterbugs, Kalia reprimanded Sharma following which an argument ensued.

After a heated exchange, however, senior BJP leaders including Kali, Bhandari and others later moved back to avoid untoward scenes.

Subsequently, after the arrival of Mailk, all leaders posed for shutterbugs together. Kalia, Bhandari, district president Ramesh Pabbi, Malik and Rathour later held the banner together amidst heavy pushes from workers at the back.

Heavy security was in place. Traffic was also disrupted for more than 20 minutes at Company Bagh Chowk during the yatra.