Former chief minister Digvijay Singh is embarking on a six-month Narmada Yatra from September 30. The chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had also undertaken a similar Yatra some months back. Singh will be arriving at Jabalpur on September 28. The Congress leader will reach Jhoteshwar the next day and after staying for the night at the Ashram, will begin his Yatra at 3 pm on September 30. His wife Amrita Rai will also accompany him.
Singh is describing the Yatra as “religious” but the preparations being made for the event indicate that it is unlikely to be a mere religious pilgrimage. Singh has got old details about River Narmada dug out from the state gazetteer, including the path of the river as also the forests, wildlife on its banks.
The state Intelligence department has been asked to keep a tab on the Yatra. The BJP has also activated its workers to get daily reports on the Yatra. During this Yatra, Digvijay Singh will walk for 3,300 km and will pass through around 100 assembly constituencies in the state. The BJP and the RSS workers will keep a close watch on what kind of response he gets.
The Congress will also be keenly watching the Yatra. Sources said that Digvijay Singh had sought permission for undertaking the Yatra from the state Congress quite some time back but it was not given. He seems to have hit back at the Congress by announcing to keep away from politics for six months. But his supporters in the party would join the Yatra. Singh had requested the state government to make arrangements of toilet, health facilities and security during the Yatra. The government has decided to provide only security.
