In Vasana, a cotton-farming village where the marchers halted under a mango tree that still stands, I found a statue of Gandhi with his walking stick. A drift of garbage had collected at its base.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh also attacked Gandhi and Thackeray, calling them "misguided people". "Thackeray is now walking with (Veer) Savarkar's opponents," he said, referring to his alliance ...