National commemoration of first war of independence from May

New Delhi, Jan 27 (UNI) The Government has decided to organise a national programme here on May 11, this year to launch a year-long national celebrations to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the First War of Independence of 1857, the 75th anniversary of the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh and the 60th anniversary of India's Independence.

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sport Mani Shankar Aiyar informed this while presiding over the preliminary meeting here in this regard.

He said it will also involve a major programme at Meerut where around 30,000 people from all over the country will congregate and march to Delhi.

He said considering the huge number of participants the functions/programmes are proposed to be organised at different locations in Delhi including the Red Fort.

A National Committee under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister will oversee the commemoration celebrations. A National Implementation Committee (NIC) has also been constituted under the Chairmanship of Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh to chalk out the programmes and organise the events for the commemoration, he said.

The inaugural function would be organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, an autonomous organisation of the Ministry will be the chief implementing agency for the inaugural function.

Besides senior officials, Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit also attended the meeting.

UNI