Congress leader Kumari Ananthan begins ahimsa march

CHENNAI: Veteran Congress leader

Kumari Ananthan

set off on an ‘ahimsa’ (non-violence) march on Monday, urging the Tamil Nadu government to allocate funds for the construction of a temple for ‘Bharata Matha’ in Papparapatti village in Dharmapuri district.

The 84-year-old leader began the march from the Gandhi statue on

Marina Beach

here with around 50 people. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) chief S Thirunavukkarasar flagged off the march.

Party sources said that Ananthan would march from Chennai to Paaparapatti over the next few days.

The state Congress has been demanding that a temple for ‘Bharat Matha’ be constructed at the memorial of freedom fighter Subramania Siva. Siva had spent his last days at the site of the memorial and wanted to build the temple, party sources said.

Over the last few years, the veteran leader has spearheaded agitations, including marches and a fast, on this issue.