People from all walks of life joined in large numbers in Sadbhavana Yatra taken out for maintaining peace and communal harmony on Friday in Shimla town, in the wake of communal tension created by certain organizations over controversy on construction of a mosque in Sanjauli area of Shimla.
The Yatra organized by Forum for Shimla Peace and Harmony was joined by dozens of democratic and progressive organizations and prominent citizens of Shimla town.
It started from DC Office Shimla, passed through Lower Bazaar, The Mall Road and concluded on The Ridge, where the participants took oath to protect the communal harmony, secularism and constitution of India before the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. The participants carrying placards raised slogans for peace and communal harmony.
The Sdahbhvana March was led by former Director of Indian Institute of Advanced Study Professor Chetan Singh, former Additional chief secretary – IAS officer Deepak Sanan, former IAS officer Ajay Sharma, Professor Ghanshyam Chauhan, Professor Rajendra Chauhan, Professor Vijay Kaushal, former MLA Rakesh Singha, former mayor Manoj Kumar and Sanjay Chauhan, former deputy mayor Tikendra Panwar, CPI (M) secretary Onkar Shad and AAP leader Chaman Rakesh Ajta
Former Joint Director of Public Relations, Sanjay Sharma, Summer Hill councilor Virendra Thakur ,senior High Court Advocate Sanjeev Bhushan , Rotary Club member Manmohan Singh, Nirankari Sabha’s Captain NPS Bhullar, Ambedkar Sabha convener Preet Pal Singh Mattoo, retired principal VVS Dogra, Professor Satya Chauhan, social worker Ranjana Jarret, Bimla Thakur, Amar Bhatia, Maulana Mumtaz Kazmi, Mahfooz Malik, Qazi Irshad, Abdul Rahim, Mohammad Arif, Himachal Kisan Sabha state president Kuldeep Singh Tanwar, CITU state president Vijendra Mehra, general secretary Prem Gautam, Janwadi Mahila Samiti general secretary Falma Chauhan, All India Audit and Accounts Pension Association National General Secretary Jagmohan Thakur, Jan Vigyan Andolan leader Satyawan Pundir, SFI State President Anil Thakur, Himachal Pensioner Association leader Mahesh Verma, , Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch leader Vivek Kashyap, Shimla Nagarik Sabha former president Ishwar Verma, famous folk singer Kapil Sharma and DYFI leader Ankit Dubeya, among others participated in the march .
Former Mayor of Shimla and CPM leader Sanjay Chauhan said, “In the last few days, we have seen that attempts are being made to communalize the environment of the state. This march is being organized to reiterate the peaceful and secular character of Shimla town. “
Great,long awaited action by Shimlaites after the RSS and some misguided so called Congress leaders tried to poison the otherwise harmonious environment of the state .