Daijiworld Media Network - Vijayapura

Vijayapura, Feb 25: All India Congress Committee President Rahul Gandhi flagged off 'Vrukshathon – 2018,' the annual marathon to promote environment, water and tree conservation, at Gol Gumbaz here on Sunday February 25.

Sporting a yellow T-shirt, hundreds of people from all walks of life descended at the entrance of Gol Gumbaz, a 17th century mausoleum for Sultan Mohammed Adil Shah, the 7th ruler of Adil Shahi dynasty and head of Bijapur sultanate, to take part in the run.

Amid unprecedented security, Gandhi arrived at Gol Gumbaz with water resource minister M B Patil and Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge, KC Venugopal, and shook hands with some among the cheering crowd.

After flagging off the marathon, he ran a few metres with the participants.

Gandhi who is on a three-day visit in poll bound Karnataka, arrived the state on Saturday and addressed a rally at Athani in Belgaum district. He will tour Belagavi, Vijayapura, Bagalkot and Dharwad as part of 'Jana Ashirwada Yatra' on Sunday and Monday.

This is Gandhi’s second visit to the state after becoming the Congress chief. During his first visit in December 2017, he had covered Koppal, Ballari, Raichur, Yadigir, Kalaburgi and Bidar districts in a four day tour.