‘Central and state government will not allow ‘desecration’ of Mahatma’s memorial
protest march against the plan Redevelopment of the famous Sabarmati Ashram This journey, which started from Sevagram in Wardha, Maharashtra, covered a distance of about 800 km and reached Ahmedabad in Gujarat on Saturday.
Protesters, including around 50 Gandhians, who gathered at Gujarat Vidyapeeth in Ahmedabad, said they would not allow the central and state government to “desecrate” the Mahatma’s memorial through this. redevelopment plan.
The protest march will formally conclude with a prayer meeting at the Sabarmati Ashram here on Sunday morning.
Gandhian Uttam Parmar said, “We are here to tell the world that we do not want the ashram to be redeveloped into a world class monument. No sir, your idea is not acceptable to us.”
The protesters said they were ready to “face atrocities” and gunfire, but would not allow the government to tamper with the Gandhian memorial.
“We reject the government’s proposal, and will not be misled. We have seen what they did with Jallianwala Bagh by turning it into a selfie point… History is being rewritten, and the redevelopment project is an effort in that direction.” Gandhian Sanjay Singha, convener of the ‘Sevagram Sabarmati Sandesh Yatra’, said.
Read also: Sabarmati Ashram: At home with the Mahatma
Gandhian Asham Bothra said that India is facing a period reminiscent of the pre-independence era, when the British, in their divide and rule policy, pitted the people against each, asserting that the individual Misuse of Gandhi for profit will not be tolerated.
Groups like Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, Gandhi Shanti Pratishthan, Sarva Seva Sangh, Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan, Sarvodaya Samaj, Nai Talim Samiti, National Youth Organization, National Gandhi Museum, Jal Biradari, Maharashtra Sarvodaya Mandal and Sarvodaya Sangathan of Gujarat participated in the march. .
The government project to redevelop the Gandhi Ashram at Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, where the Mahatma lived from 1917 to 1930, by bringing the various heritage buildings together as a unified whole and increasing the facilities for tourists to an area of five acres to 55 acres. expansion is envisaged. Attractions like museum, amphi-theater etc.
It is estimated to cost Rs 1,200 crore.
.