Runners take An oath to vote

Over 2,500 people, young and old, gathered at People’s Plaza to ‘Run for Caste-Free India’ on Monday on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti. This 10-km run was held to spread awareness about equal opportunities for people irrespective of their caste. The event was organised by the Shanti Chakra International Foundation in collaboration with the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI). The chief guests for the event were Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwarlal and noted actor Rana Daggubati, who flagged off the run. The run started at People's Plaza and culminated at Dr Ambedkar Statue at Tank Bund.

This run, which is in its third year, is the brain-child of Ravi Kumar Narra, a Padma Shri awardee and a city based Dalit entrepreneur who shared his views with the large gathering of people who gathered for the run. He said, “Dr B R Ambedkar was a progressive thinker of the modern world who had advocated the annihilation of caste. But the country is still plagued by this evil and it is time that the people take a stance and rid the country of this cancer.”

Before the run was a flagged off, there was a cultural performance by Jayraj who sang folk songs to inspire and instigate the crowds. After every song the crowds were shouting slogans in praise of Dr BR Ambedkar.

Ravi Kumar Narra also asked actor Rana Daggubati to be the ambassador for the run. The actor obliged and said, “Caste has been around for ages. It is time we got rid of it. I ask all the people here to kill discrimination. Only then can one see a change in the society.”

Prof G Haragopal, one of the invitees, said, “It is quintessential for the youth of the country to dream of a caste-free society. One would not be able to find happiness in such an inhuman society. This run symbolises a fight against such evils. It symbolises a fight against yourselves.”

Talking about the importance of voting at the event, Bhanwarlal said, “We want to ensure that this year there would be 100 per cent voter turnout in the state. Not just that we need to make sure that we make a responsible choice while casting it. We need a leader who would be able to pluck out social evils from the society.”

‘Let’s Vote’, an organisation devoted to spreading awareness amongst the youth and the importance of their franchise, also played an active role in the event. After the cultural programme, a representative of the organisation asked the crowd to take an oath to vote.

Also present at the event were Ratna Kumar, IRS; Vanitha Datla, Vice-Chairman, CII; VS Rao, Director, BITS; RS Praveen Kumar, IPS; V Sambasiva Rao and others.