Rajnath Singh on Thursday became the first Bharatiya Janata Party president to visit Bapu Kutir, a memorial to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, in Sewagram in Wardha district of Maharashtra.
Singh paid homage to the Mahatma shortly before formally launching the party's two-day 'Kisan Yatra' in Vidarbha.
Later, speaking to reporters, Singh said Gandhism held relevance even today. Since Mahatma Gandhi had mobilised farmers in the country in the fight against British rule, he decided to launch the 'Kisan Yatra' from Vidarbha, he added.
He also signed the visitors' register at Bapu Kutir. He wrote, "This place has been blessed by the presence of Mahatma Gandhi. I am honoured to be here. It will be an inspiration for generations to come".
Accompanied by BJP general secretary Gopinath Munde, Maharashtra unit chief Nitin Gadkari and others, Singh was shown around by Shivshankar Pente and Kusumtai Pande, who look after the day-to-day management at Bapu Kutir.
It was from Sewagram that Gandhiji guided India's freedom struggle for several years, and it was there that the decision to launch the 'Quit India' Movement against the British had been made.
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