Bhopal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay foundation for a Rs 102 crore-grand temple dedicated to the 15th century mystic poet and social reformer Sant Ravidas in Sagar in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday, marking culmination of the 18-day dalit outreach programme, christened as ‘Samrasta (harmony) Yatra’, by BJP in the state.
The yatra launched at five different places in Madhya Pradesh simultaneously on July 25 is scheduled to cover 53,000 villages in 45 out of 54 districts in the state before converging in Sagar on Friday night, a BJP spokesman said on Thursday.
Mr Modi is scheduled to perform “Bhoomi Pujan” (foundation laying) for the proposed temple at Bartuma, on the outskirt of district headquarters of Sagar, besides inaugurating a museum showcasing works and teachings of the spiritual leader, revered by people in some parts of India particularly among the dalits, on the day.
He is also scheduled to address a public meeting on the occasion.
Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday visited Bartuma to review the arrangements being made for the event.
Around two lakh people were expected to attend the programme at Bartuma on Saturday, the BJP spokesman said.
The massive dalit outreach programme launched by BJP comes ahead of the year-end assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh.
The spiritual leader has a sizable chunk of followers among scheduled caste communities in MP, who constitute 16 percent of state’s population.
Of the total 230 assembly seats in the state, 35 are reserved for scheduled castes (SC).
BJP had won 17 seats reserved for SC in the 2018 assembly elections against 28 seats in 2013 assembly polls.
The party has focused its attention to regain its base among the dalits in the state in the upcoming assembly elections.
