Thursday, April 6 2006 12:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Rajkot (Gujarat): Leader of Opposition L K Advani is all set to embark on his sixth political yatra from here today (Apr 6, 2006) aimed at 'educating the people' about the 'minority appeasement' policies of the UPA Government and its alleged failures on all fronts.

The gruelling 6,000 km-long journey criss-crossing ten states over five weeks would begin from the Chaudhari high school ground, where the veteran BJP leader would address a public meeting along with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Ministers of some party-ruled states and other party leaders.

BJP president Rajnath Singh is also scheduled to undertake a simultaneous yatra from Bhubaneswar after offering prayers at the Puri Jagganath temple.

Advani, who had step down as BJP president last December following his spat with RSS on Jinnah issue, would begin the 'Bharat Suraksha Yatra' after paying homage to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi at his birth place in Porbandar.

Last night Advani had offered prayers at the Dwarkadhish temple and at the historic Shankaracharya Peeth near here along with his family.

Advani's Somnath to Ayodhya Ram Rath Yatra on the issue of Ram temple construction in 1990 had catapulted the BJP into the centrestage of the national politics while his Bharat Uday Yatra in 2004 failed to bring back NDA to power at the Centre.

Incidentally today, when Advani embark on his yatra, also happens to be Ram Navami and the party's foundation day.

He would conclude his yatra with a public meeting in Delhi on May 10, the 149th anniversary of First War of Independence. Meanwhile, seeking to embarrass Advani, some Sangh Parivar outfits had plastered the walls of this city with posters carrying party general secretary (organisation) Sanjay Joshi's photograph and message 'Kaho dil se, Sanjay Joshi phir se (say it from the heart, Sanjay Joshi is back again).

Joshi, who was reinstated to the post after the Madhya Pradesh police gave him a clean-chit in the sleaze CD controversy, is reportedly not in good books of the former Deputy Prime Minister.

While the RSS has indirectly extended its support to the yatra, VHP has categorically refused to give any cooperation.

Meanwhile, the air-conditioned rath in which Advani would travel has arrived from Pune where it was built at an estimated cost of Rs 20 lakh. The five-star hi-tech rath includes a rest room, a toilet, wardrobe, satellite TV with LCD screen, wash basin, hydraulic lift for two persons, sofa set, bed, ten floodlights, six speakers and a public address system.

Yatra co-convenor Kirit Somaiya said the vehicle has not been made bullet proof as adequate security arrangement has been made by police and various states through which it would pass through.

Over 1,000 police personnel have been deployed in Rajkot and along the route to prevent any untoward incident. The security arrangement are being personally being supervised by city police commissioner K Nityanandam.