Congress to embark on 'Buddha to Gandhi' march in Bihar

The Congress will undertake a 350-km 'Buddha to Gandhi' march in Bihar to protest against the Land Acquisition Bill, downsizing of MNREGA and other policies of the central government.
The march would start on March 20 from Bodh Gaya and will end at Bhitiharwa in West Champaran district.
These places are significant as Bodh Gaya is the place where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment and Bhitiharwa in West Champaran district is where Mahatma Gandhi had built an 'ashram' during his historical 'Satyagraha' in 1917 against forcible indigo farming by the British.
"The aim of the march is to ensure justice for farmers and labourers whose welfare is being hurt by the Centre's policies. The march will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will cover 110 km from Bodh Gaya to Patna between March 20 and 25," said Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) president Ashok Chaudhary.

Chaudhary said the second phase would begin in the first week of April from Patna and cover the rest 240 km up to Bhitiharwa (West Champaran) and would be spread over ten days.
"We have chosen to call the event 'Buddha to Gandhi' march as it will begin from Bodh Gaya. Besides, the first session of All India Congress Committee (AICC) was held in Gaya in 1922," Chaudhary said.
A gap has been provided between the first and second phases as a session of All India Congress Committee (AICC) was expected in the first week of April and leaders from the state would attend it.

The BPCC president said around 250 leaders from all over the state would participate in the march, while hundreds would join it in the districts through which it would pass.