Bantwal: The Samarasya Nadige Sauhardatheyedege, a walkathon organised to show solidarity towards communal harmony and secularism was inaugurated here at Farangipet on Tuesday, December 12 by releasing doves – a symbol of peace, in the presence of well-known actor Prakash Rai and other CPI(M) leaders.
However, as against the intention of the walk, which is being led by district in-charge minister, B Ramanath Rai, the event encountered trouble as miscreants pelted stones at a KSRTC bus at Farangipet during wee hours. No casualties have been reported, but the glasses of the bus have been damaged.
The walk is being taken out from Farangipet to Mani where a valedictory programme is scheduled to be held later in the day at around 5.00 PM. The stage for the programme has been named after “Navooru Harish Poojary”, an innocent who was murdered by communal forces.
Speaking on the occasion Rai said that the walkathon is open to any person, organisation, political party who upholds secular values, except for the anti-social forces who try to disrupt the communal harmony in the region otherwise known for its harmonious co-existence.
Meanwhile, adequate security arrangements have been taken to avert any untoward instances, specially in Farangipet, Kaikamba, BC Road and Kalladka areas which was witness to several instances of communal violence in recent times.
MLAs, J R Lobo and Mohiuddin Bava, Chief Whip of the state legislative council, Ivan D Souza, district Congress president, Harish Kumar and several others were present.
