Congress's 'Kalash Yatra' begins in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh unit of Congress, which lost its chief Nand Kumar Patel and a few other leaders and workers in the deadly Naxal attack in Bastar area on May 25, today started its 'Kalash Yatra', meant to pay tribute to the slain leaders.

The first phase of the Yatra today commenced from Rajim, 45 km from here, where former union minister Vidya Charan Shukla was active. Shukla died after getting critically injured in the attack.

Speaking on the occasion, All India Congress Committee (AICC) treasurer Motilal Vora compared the slain party leaders to freedom fighters, and said their dreams would be fulfilled only when the BJP government was ousted in the coming assembly elections.

Union Minister and acting president of state Congress Charandas Mahant said the sacrifice of party leaders will not go in vain.

Congress leaders who spoke on the occasion blamed Chief Minister Raman Singh for failure to provide security to the Parivartan Yatra which came under attack on May 25.