Honourary president of the rally committee S Naganna, and industrialist and working president B A Chidambarayya provided details regarding the same, at a press conference on Tuesday.

“The Samiti, since its inception, has been holding progressive, scientific programmes to bring about awareness among the public. We have been organising several scientific programmes in the field of education. We are now holding a rally to bring about awareness on peace, harmony and equality,” they explained.

The organisers say that the rally is being held with the aim of creating a scientific mindset among the public, and bringing about awareness on the necessity for decentralisation for progress. The rally - which will be flagged off in Tumkur - will later be taken all over the State.

“In a democracy, the people themselves are the rulers; so politicians resort to consulting astrologers to get  into power by hook or by crook. Awareness has to be created among the people in this regard.

This year, the rally will also involve more members of women’s self help groups (SHGs) to bring about awareness among women about superstitions, and black magic,” said Naganna.

In recent times, there has been an increase in unrest and communal tensions, pushing people back into superstition and blind beliefs.

The people are in a confused. Thanks to globalisation, farmers are in a sorry situation, and many of them are resorting to suicide. Poverty and unemployment plague the common man.

So this rally is being held to create a scientific mindset among the people, said Chidambarayya and
Naganna.

Streetplays, scientific songs and several other such cultural events will be held during the rally.

This being a State-level rally, programmes will be held all over. The rally will travel all over Tumkur.

Litterateur Baragur Ramachandrappa will inaugurate the rally at 10.30 am on Thursday. The rally will travel to Mandya district via  Kunigal.

Office bearers and members of the Bharata Jnana Vignana Samiti were present at the press conference.