Re-enactment of historic Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha

Members of Tamil Nadu Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha Awareness Movement take out ‘padayatra’

Members of the Tamil Nadu Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha Awareness Movement embarked on a ‘padayatra’ to Vedaranyam from here on Wednesday re-enacting and remembering the historic Vedaranyam Salt Sathyagraha March that was led by Rajaji on April 13, 1930, in protest against the salt tax levied by the British and to build further momentum to the Independence struggle in south India.

The re-enactment of the march started from the Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha Memorial in the city in which Congress leaders and party members participated.

Senior Congress leaders K.V. Thangkabalu, E.V.K.S. Elangovan, P. Chidambaram, party’s Tiruchi Lok Sabha MP Su. Thirunavukkarasar and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K.S. Alagiri took part in the event. The members of the Movement offered floral tributes to the Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha Memorial before embarking on the ‘padayatra’. 

In a brief interaction with reporters on the occasion, Mr. Chidambaram said the ‘padayatra’ was being re-enacted in remembrance of the historic Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha march that was taken out 92 years ago and to convey it to the present generation. It was being re-enacted for the people to understand the history of our independence struggle and the manner in which they had fought against imperialism for curbing the rights during the colonial era.

Mr. Chidambaram alleged that “our rights were being violated even today. Our freedom was being gradually snatched such as freedom of language, freedom of speech and freedom to write.” 

He called upon the people to once again develop the spirit of protest.

Tamil Nadu Vedaranyam Salt Sathyagraha Awareness Movement State president EM. Arumugam said the members undertaking the ‘padayatra’ would reach Vedaranyam on April 30 where they would re-enact salt satyagraha. They would observe a day-long fast the previous day.