Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev remembered

New Delhi, Mar 23 (UNI) Seventy-five years after they walked to the gallows for the sake of freedom from British rule, the nation today remembered the immortal sacrifice of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev.

Glowing tributes were paid to the martyrs at public meetings, through memorial marches and street plays.

Hundreds of students, youth and other citizens participated in a march organised by the All India Youth Federation and the All India Students Federation.

They also lit candles in the memory of the freedom fighters at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Park.

Another rally was organised by the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) from Mandi House roundabout to Jantar Mantar where a public meeting was held. The All India Students' Association organised an anti-imperialist convention on the occasion.

A number of people's organisations started a two-day programme highlighting the anti-imperialist agenda of the three martyrs.

The theme was in focus also at a public meeting organised by the Nehru Yuvak Sangathan and the Freedom Movement Memorial Committee.

Union Ministers M V Rajasekharan and Mani Shankar Aiyar, besides Bhagat Singh's nephew Kiranjeet Singh and a host of leaders from Left parties attended the meeting.

''Mahatma Gandhi no doubt was the leader of the Freedom Struggle, but it was Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev who fired the imagination of the youth,'' CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan said.

He said the Government should publish the diary and essays of the revolutionary leaders. CPI(M) Politburo Member Sitaram Yechury said there should be a statue of the three martyrs in the Parliament.

Other leaders of Left parties sought to project the socialist roots of the three freedom fighters. Their dream of establishing a socialist democratic system, their opposition to sectarian politics and imperialism were still relevant, they said.

A rightful tribute to the three leaders would be possible only by carrying forward this struggle, they said.

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