Mani Shankar denies Jang-e-Azadi pad yatra was a party affair

Meerut, May 7 (UNI) Union Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar denied that the Jang-e-Azadi pad yatra taken out to mark the 150th anniversary of India's first war of Independence was any particular party affair because of the absence of members of other political parties in the function.

Talking to UNI here, the Minister said it should not be looked at in this light and that it was a national affair.

On the absence of other parties from the celebrations, Mr Aiyar said invitations were not sent out to anybody since it was a national affair and everybody was welcome. Moreover, he said, the function at the Lal Qila on May 11 would be attended by President A P J Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and NDA chairman Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

'' This shows that we all are united when it comes to the nation, which was the very spirit of the rally taken from Meerut to Delhi in 1857. The same spirit would be exhibited this time and we stand for the nation as one,'' he said.

He also said that India stood as one when it comes to the nation and anything related to nationalism.

Mani Shankar Aiyar was speaking on the sidelines of the 150th anniversary of the 1857 uprising- the first war of Indian Independence.

UNI