PM to kick-start countrywide Gandhi Jayanti celebrations (Roundup)

By IANS | Published: October 1, 2019 09:48 PM2019-10-01T21:48:05+5:302019-10-01T21:55:04+5:30

From Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will kickstart the countrywide events, to politic of all hue, and commoners, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Wednesday will see celebrations across the country, with blood donation camps being held and large-sized photos of Gandhi emblazoned across trains and hoardings.

PM to kick-start countrywide Gandhi Jayanti celebrations (Roundup) | PM to kick-start countrywide Gandhi Jayanti celebrations (Roundup)

PM to kick-start countrywide Gandhi Jayanti celebrations (Roundup)

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi will visit Rajghat, the resting place of the Father of the Nation, at 7.20 a.m. He will also visit Vijayghat, the resting place of former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri, who also shares his birthday with Gandhi.

Modi will go to the Parliament where he will pay floral tributes to both the leaders. Later in the evening, he is to fly to Ahmedabad and visit the Sabarmati Ashram. The PM, who launched the Swachh Bharat campaign on October 2 in 2014, in remembrance of Gandhi, will take part in an event for cleanliness there.

BJP President and Home Minister Amit Shah will address a small gathering in Delhi's Shalimar Bagh where he will flag off a Gandhi Sankalp Yatra from the Ramleela Maidan there.

Congress leaders, led by party's interim President Sonia Gandhi, will lead a Gandhi Sandesh padyatra as part of a week-long celebration to mark the 150th birth anniversary. The march will start at 9.30 a.m. from the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee officer.

The Consulate General in New York would hold a celebration at Union Square to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi.

Over 10,000 students will assemble their own solar lamps and light them together to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, as part of the Global Student Solar Assembly and attempt to enter the Guinness Book World Record.

The event will be attended by Union Ministers R.K. Singh and Prakash Javadekar.

BJP Working President J.P. Nadda will hold a Gandhi Sankalp Yatra at Chand Vatika, near Khaira village, whereas Javadekar will join the event at Chuna Bhatti area of Kirti Nagar in Delhi.

All Delhi MPs and senior BJP leaders will join this yatra at different point, across Delhi, on October 2.

Ever since Narendra Modi government came to power in 2014, October 2 is being celebrated with much fanfare.

The Indian Railways has emblazoned Mahatma Gandhi's pictures on locomotives to mark his 150th birth anniversary. Health Minister Harsh Vardhan urged people to register on the Rakt Kosh app on Gandhi Jayanti and pledge to donate blood at least once a year.

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others" - Mahatma Gandhi. It is with this spirit that I urge you all to register on #eRaktKosh App & on @facebook. Pledge to donate blood atleast once a year!," he tweeted.

In Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath government is to hold a special assembly session on Gandhi Jayanti. However, opposition parties have decided to boycott this session.

In Hyderabad, BJP leaders are to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Bapu Ghat in the morning and then launch a Padayatra from Ganesh Chowk, Khairatabad, Hyderabad.

NCC cadets on Tuesday concluded their cycle expedition at Porbandar, Gujarat, ahead of Gandhi Jayanti.

On Wednesday, the government is expected to announce a ban on single-use plastic to pave the way for India to become totally free of single use plastic by 2022.

Besides political functions, several localities, and organisations have planned functions to mark the day. Many schools and colleges held functions on Tuesday to mark Gandhi Jayanti and Wednesday is a holiday.

( With inputs from IANS )

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