Mumbai: On the occasion of the 1942 Quit India Movement’s anniversary, the Maharashtra Congress attacked the Central government over growing incidents of mob lynching and curbs on the freedom of media. Congress leaders, including state unit president Ashok Chavan, organised a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ from the August Kranti Maidan to Mani Bhavan in South Mumbai, to mark the 76th anniversary of the movement.
Mahatma Gandhi had delivered his Quit India speech at Gowalia Tank Maidan — which was later renamed as August Kranti Maidan — on August 8, 1942. Mani Bhavan, located in Gamdevi, had served as the Mumbai headquarters of the Mahatma from 1917 to 1934.
Mr Chavan alleged that the current situation in the country is similar to the British Raj before 1942. “Just like in 1942, unrest is prevailing in the country. Incidents of mob lynching are on the rise. The press is being gagged. Farmers are committing suicide; the backward classes are being attacked,” said Mr Chavan.
He also said that its time for the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA government to step down over its ‘failures’. Mumbai unit Congress president Sanjay Niru-pam and other leaders who accompanied Mr Chavan paid homage to the martyrs of the freedom struggle at August Kranti Maidan.
