Swaraj Abhiyan launches peace campaign in Varanasi

VARANASI: The newly-formed political outfit Swaraj Abhiyan has launched a month-long ' peace campaign' to promote communal harmony in the district which recently witnessed violence over ban on immersion of Ganesha idols in Ganga river.

"We have launched a month-long signature campaign 'Sampradayik Sadbhavna Abhiyan' to foster amity, love and brotherhood among various sections of society of this temple city, which witnessed a massive violence on October 5 during a 'Pratikar Yatra' of saints and seers," Swaraj Abhiyan Spokesperson of Eastern UP region, Shwetank Mishra said.

"Maintaining peace and harmony among people of this city is the top priority at this crucial moment after this violent incident here," he said.

Mishra said that "the month-long signature campaign has been launched in the memory of former eminent socialite Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi, who lost his life on March 25, 1931 during a communal riot in Kanpur."

"Our aim is to make this peace message reach every nook and corner of this temple city," he said.

The campaign was launched on the same day of the incident October 5 and will continue till November 5, Mishra added.