Sarv Seva Sangh eviction from Rajghat protested

Varanasi: Scores of social activists from across the country gathered at Shastri Ghat, along Varuna river near district headquarters on Thursday to protest evacuation of the Sarva Seva Sangh premises at Rajghat by the railways in July. Addressing the gathering, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait condemned the Sarva Seva Sangh’s ouster from its premises at Rajghat and alleged that the Bhartiya Janata Party is grabbing land. Referring to the farmers’ movement on the Delhi border in 2020, Tikait said if tractors can go to Delhi they can also come to Varanasi to protest. Medha Patkar and Yogendra Yadav addressed the rally and termed the evacuation move as an attack on Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy and the foundation of the country. Other speakers said Sarva Seva Sangh was formed at the national level after killing of Mahatma Gandhi to promote people’s rule and and public politics. Sarva Seva Sangh’s ashrams across the country are engaged in progressive, non-violent, democratic, peaceful, literary programmes as also in educating public about Gandhian thought.They said the sangh’s Varanasi campus had a publication unit and books published from there were sold at Sarvodaya book stalls at railway stations. Important among those who addressed the gathering were Kumar Prashant, Pankaj Pushkar and Ramdheeraj Bhai.