Forward Bloc to launch Netaji Idealism Yatra

The All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) Bengal unit would launch "Netaji Idealism Yatra" across the state to spread awareness against the rise of communalism in the state, a senior party functionary said Monday.

The yatra will start from January 10 and continue till Jan 21. The tableau will travel across the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies of the state.

"The reason for this yatra is to spread awareness about the ideals of Netaji, especailly on secularism. We want to propagate his speeches where he spoke about the need to combat communalism in the country," Naren Chatterjee, state secretary, AIFB said.

At a time when we are witnessing competitive communalism practised by both TMC and BJP in the state, the teachings of Netaji are much more important. The BJP, which is trying to propagate Netaji, should take lessons on secularism from his ideolgy, he said.

When asked if the yatra is being held to counter BJP's proposed rath yatra in the state, Chatterjee replied in the negative.

The BJP, which had planned to take out three phased rath yatra in Bengal from December 7 last year, had to shelve its plans after the state government denied them permission to hold such a rally.