Patna April 18 (IANS) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday began his Gandhi Smriti Yatra in Champaran district to mark the 100th year of Mahatma Gandhi s first major satyagraha against the British rule.
Nitish Kumar along with Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav other ministers and thousands of local residents walked a stretch of seven km from Chandriya (village) to Motihari (district headquarters of east Champaran) a district official said.
The Yatra would be followed by a series of programmes the official added.
Various other functions have already started last week on a large scale to mark the centenary year.
President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday honoured freedom fighters from across the country to mark the ongoing year-long celebrations of the Champaran satyagraha.
Mahatma Gandhi launched his satyagraha -- nonviolent agitation -- against the forced cultivation of indigo by British rulers in Champaran district on April 10 1917.
--IANS
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Nitish Kumar begins Gandhi Smriti Yatra