Congress to organise ''Jal Yatra'' on Ganges river

Lucknow, Mar 15 : Moving beyond road yatras to mark the 125th year of its foundation, Congress has now come up with the novel idea of organising a ''Jal Yatra'' on the Ganges river.
The yatra, scheduled to start from Kanpur by steamer on April 15, would pass through Fatehpur, Kaushambi, Allahabad and Bhadohi districts, before culminating at Mirzapur on April 27, party spokesman Subodh Srivastava said.
He said that during "Jal Yatra", public meetings would be organised in towns, villages and cities alongside the bank of the Ganges.
"These meetings will be addressed by senior party leaders and Union Ministers," Srivastava said.
This is the first time in the state when such a yatra is being organised by a political party, he said.
Srivastava said the state unit of Eklayava Sena would cooperate in coordinating the yatra to be led by UPPCC vice-president Umed Nishad, husband of slain bandit queen-turned politician and MP Phoolan Devi.
"The yatra will be welcomed by members of Kevat and Nishad communities in the river itself," he said.