PM Modi to launch ‘Amrit Mahotsav’ on completion of 91 years of ‘Salt Satyagraha’

New Delhi : To celebrate the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the ‘Dandi March’ or ‘Salt March’ on March 12 in Ahmedabad. The Salt March was an act of civil disobedience led by Mahatma Gandhi to protest the British rule in the country. Salt March took place from March to April 1930.

79 people including Mahatma Gandhi had embarked on the Dandi Yatra on March 12, 1930 from Sabarmati Ashram to break the law which had imposed tax on salt. They reached Dandi on April 5 and broke the law after walking for 21 days.

Similarly 81 persons from Ahmedabad will embark on the 386-km-long same route from Ahmedabad to coastal village Dandi in south Gujarat on March 12, almost after 91 years when Mahatma Gandhi had taken out the march to break the salt law challenging the British rule in India.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said, “The Dandi March will be re-enacted in its entirety. As it had taken place in 1930 and ended on April 5, it will begin on March 12. During this Dandi March, 81 pedestrians will walk all the way to Dandi on the sea coast 386 km away.”

Amrut Mahotsav :

The event will be part of the State government’s programme to mark “Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav”.

A high-powered committee has been set up by the Gujarat government. The committee will be chaired by the Chief Minister and it’ll finalise the preparations to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Independence.

Vijay Rupani said, “Gujarat had played a significant role in the country’s freedom movement. Hence the ‘Amrit Mahotsav of Independence’ will be celebrated in a grand manner by the State.”

A variety of programmes have been lined up apart from the Dandi March and will be simultaneously held at 75 locations in Gujarat, at places associated with Mahatma Gandhi’s life.

The State government has also planned big events at Porbandar, Rajkot, Vadodara, Bardoli and Mandvi, and at district headquarters across the State.