Venkaiah Naidu and Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai on Tuesday. — Debasish Dey

Says 1942 movement was no movie to warrant a sequel.

The state government’s ‘Chale Jao 2’, conceived on the lines of Quit India slogan, has found little favour with the Congress.

Chale Jao 2 against corruption was launched at an event to mark the anniversary of 1942 Quit India Movement.

Both Union minister Venkaiah Naidu and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis were present to commemorate the platinum jubilee anniversary of the Quit India Movement. The launch took place at the historic August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai, from where Mahatma Gandhi had given the clarion call of Quit India in 1942. However, Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said the government was portraying ‘Chale Jao 2’, as a sequel to the movement but the 1942 movement was not a movie.

“The BJP and RSS are trying to rewrite history and diminish the importance of Mahatma Gandhi’s movement. The then RSS chief (M.S.) Golwalkar guruji had in fact opposed the movement. The chief minister did not even visit the August Kranti Maidan last year. BJP’s Chale Jao 2 is an insult to the martyrs and freedom fighters of the country,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Naidu said, “After 68 years of Independence, there is a need for people to respond with similar passion, zeal and commitment to ‘quit’ several social and other evils plaguing the nation and take India to newer heights”.

“Providing education to all, creating employment, combining development with welfare measures are all part of the larger ‘Quit Poverty” campaign and every Indian should supplement the efforts of the government in this regard. Antyodaya is the way forward,” he asserted.

Mr Fadnavis said Mumbai had played a significant role during the freedom struggle. “The city is taking a lead in launching the second Quit India Movement. This time the fight is not against the British, but against social evils such as corruption, farmer suicides, malnutrition, water wastage and terrorism”.