Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Dec 20: As part of the concluding programme of the signature collection campaign aimed at creating public awareness on the alleged electoral irregularities (Vote Chori) by the central government, the Udupi district Congress formed a human chain from the City Bus Stand to Manipal on December 20.

The programme was inaugurated at the Udupi City Bus Stand with the chanting of Vande Mataram and the reading of the Preamble of the Constitution.

Addressing the gathering, former minister Vinay Kumar Sorake alleged that the Constitution framed by Dr B R Ambedkar is being repeatedly undermined. He accused the BJP-led Central government of making all possible attempts to weaken the Constitution and attacking democratic institutions by using various instruments against opposition parties. “In such a situation, this programme has been organised to create awareness among the people and to inform them about the anti-people policies of the Central government,” he said.

Vinay Kumar Sorake further alleged that the BJP government had insulted Mahatma Gandhi in Parliament, which, according to him, amounted to “killing Gandhi for the second time.” He claimed that the ruling party had dealt a severe blow to Gandhi’s vision of Ram Rajya.

Thousands of people participated in the human chain formed from the City Bus Stand to Manipal, expressing solidarity with the campaign.

MLC Ivan D’Souza, MLC Manjunath Bhandary, District Congress president Ashok Kumar Kodavoor, Coastal Development Authority president M A Gafoor, KPCC spokesperson Niketh Raj Maurya, Udupi Urban Development Authority president Dinakar Heroor, Narayana Guru Development Authority president Manjunath Poojary, Udupi Block Congress president Ramesh Kanchan, and leaders Hariprasad Rai, Kishan Hegde Kolkebail, Raju Poojary, Veronica Cornelio, Jyothi Hebbar and others were present.