More programmes on 1st war of Independence should be organised: Goel

New Delhi, May 18, (UNI) Former Union Minister and BJP leader Vijay Goel today said more programmes on the theme of First War of Indian Independence should be organised to inculcate the feeling of 1857 in the heart of youth and the new generation.

Meeting Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni as part of a delegation of the Heritage India Foundation, Mr Goel, who submitted a 'Charter of Demands' to the Minister observed that after holding programmes on May 10, the Congress government has considered it the end of its duties towards celebration of War of Indian Independence.

However, it is necessary that more and more programmes on this theme should be organised to inculcate the feeling of 1857 in the heart of youths and new generations, he underlined.

Mr Goel said that though the intention of the government behind holding the programmes on completion of 150 years of the 1857 War was good, yet the programmes were neither organised properly nor indicated public participation.

Hardly 500 people were present in the National Stadium--the venue of the programme whereas the Stadium could have accommodated 7000 persons easily.

No picture of any revolutionary was displayed in the programme organised in the Central Hall of the Parliament. The doors of Red Fort were also closed to the public keeping them away from the programme.

Among the charter of demands submitted by the delegation was that a memorial for the martyrs of 1857 be raised in the courtyard opposite the historical Red Fort like 'Amar Jawan Jyoti' , that an exhibition be arranged depicting entire 1857 Revolution in 'National Independence War Museum inside the Red Fort and memorials about the 1857 Revolution situated in different places in the country be declared 'National Heritage'.

UNI