Jung-e-Azadi rally flagged off

Meerut, May 7 (UNI) UP Governor T V Rajeshwar flagged off the Jung-e-Azadi rally commemorating 150 years of 1857 uprising from Meerut to Delhi at 0605 hrs this morning in the presence of Union Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Mani Shankar Aiyer.

85 armymen on horses led a rally of 10,000 people which was followed by cadres of Nehru Yuva Kendra. Several tableaux depicting the 1857 uprising were interspersed between the rallyist.

'Sajhi Shahadat-Sajhi Virasat' is the slogan under which the ceremony is being organised.

The rally which includes about 400 NCC cadets and youths from about 25 states and Union Territories would reach Delhi on May 11.

The rally was welcomed by RSS members at Meerut. People thronged the streets and showered flowers over the rallyists.

Several vyapar mandals distributed sweets among the rallyists.

Various colleges also took part in the celebration with its students distributing water and sweets among the people.

People belonging to nearly all the age groups came on streets to shake hands with the participants.

Six differently abled people were also a part of the Jung-e-Azadi rally. A two-year-old girl in the lap of his father distributed toffees among the rallyists depicting the level of excitement among the people.

RSS sangh chalak (Meerut distt) Surya Prakash told UNI here that a team of RSS men had started on April 8 to participate in the rally from Moirang in Arunachal Pradesh where Subhash Chandra Bose had first hoisted the flag of independent India.

''Though we were not called for the function but it is no issue as sara desh humara hai (the nation is ours),'' he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Aiyar denied that the rally was any particular party affair because of the absence of members of other political parties.

''No invitations were sent out as it was a national affair and everybody was welcome,'' he said.

It is expected that by the time it reaches Delhi, the total strength of the rallyists will increase to around 30,000.

The youths symbolising unity in diversity were shouting slogans like 'Delhi Chalo', 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Vande Mataram'.

The rallyists also carried posters which read '' Tu zinda hai tu zindagi ki jeet par yakeen kar''.

The rally left the Victoria Palm ground, Meerut and will make its first halt at Modinagar followed by Murad Nagar and Ghaziabad on its way to Delhi where the rally will finally culminate.

UNI