Sonia does a Dandi again

Few could match AICC chief Sonia Gandhi’s long strides and brisk pace at the start of the Dandi March, organised to mark the 75th year ...

Few could match AICC chief Sonia Gandhi’s long strides and brisk pace at the start of the Dandi March, organised to mark the 75th year of the historic event. What followed her was a sea of humanity in white, over a dozen ‘‘Gandhis’’, besides a huge crowd of party workers and leaders, most of them huffing and puffing.

Prior to the start, Sonia administered an oath to the party workers and Seva Dal volunteers at the Ashram, which presented a veiled political agenda aimed at women, youth and rural India. The oath spoke of women’s empowerment, clean environment, education, rural development and self employment avenues for youths — issues usually raised before elections.

Sports Minister Sunil Dutt indicated that Mahatma Gandhi was still relevant as most of his dreams were yet to be realised. ‘‘The youth are splintered today and they need to be brought together…only then we won’t have to witness situations where children are orphaned and women are widowed…,’’ he said in a subtle reference to Godhra riots.

AICC general secretary Ashok Gehlot said repetition of efforts like Dandi Yatra ‘‘are more useful in uniting people in a state like Gujarat which has a backdrop of communal violence’’. The march got a huge response as thousands lined up to greet Sonia and the yatris. Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and his sons played Gandhi’s favourite bhajan.

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