Shiv Samman Padayatra begins from Karnataka's Rajahansgad Fort

BELAGAVI: The Shiv Samman Padayatra rally was launched at the historical Rajahansgad Fort, 20 km from city, on Wednesday by Ramakant Konduskar, the national president of Sri Ram Sena Hindustan.
The padayatra is supported by the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) and many right-wing outfits and Marathi linguistic and cultural forums. The padayatra aims to bring pressure upon the Central government to name the newly upgraded Belagavi railway station after Chatrapati Shivaji. The railway station is scheduled to be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on Monday.
The padayatra, launched at the Rajahansgad fort premises on Wednesday, will conclude on February 26 at the Belagavi railway station.
The marchers will halt at four places, including Dhamane and Yallur, where cultural programmes and lectures on Shivaji, the strengthening of the Marathi language in the border area and issues of the Maratha community will be discussed.
Ramakant Konduskar, who is leading the padayatra, is an aspirant for an MES ticket for Belagavi (South) against the BJP’s expected candidate, MLA Abhay Patil. Most of the prominent leaders of the MES have given their nod to Konduskar’s candidature by supporting the padayatra.
Konduskar said: “Many politicians have been using the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji for votes. At the onset of elections, they are engaged in fooling Marathi people by installing statues of Shivaji and using saffron colour flags.
But these politicians were nowhere when the statue of Shivaji was vandalised in Bengaluru. They did not react on the incident. Now, they are trying to get sympathy from the Marathi people by using the name of Shivaji.”
He also raked up the fight between the Congress and the BJP over taking credit for developing the Rajahansgad fort. “It was the reason why we launched our padayatra from Rajahansgad fort. We will expose their hypocrisy towards Chhatrapati Shivaji and the saffron flag in the coming days,” Konduskar said.