Gujarat takes umbrage at omisson of its freedom fighters

New Delhi, Jul 27 (UNI) The Gujarat government today expressed shock and dismay over the ''blatant omission'' of revolutionaries and freedom fighters of the state from the publications and calendar brought out by the Centre to observe the 150th anniversary of the 1857 First War of Independence.

Participating in a meeting here in connection with the event, Gujarat Health Minister Ashok Bhatt said Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Dadabhai Naoroji and Vitthalbhai Patel -- the illustrious leaders from Gujarat -- played a vital role in the country's freedom struggle.

''I strongly protest the injustice, whether wittingly or unwittingly, meted out to these leaders by the Centre through their omission from the celebrations,'' he said, adding that it had shocked the people of Gujarat beyond disbelief.

The meeting at Vigyan Bhavan was attended by Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh, Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni and ministers from various states and Union Territories.

Mr Bhatt said it was equally shocking to note that even Lokmanya Tilak, who hailed from Maharashtra, had been ommitted from the publications and the calendar.

Appealing to the Centre to take the corrective measures, he said the invaluable contributons of these great leaders should be given their due place in the events to commemorate the occasion.

''Even the British government had made elaborate references to their defiance and personal sacrifices, but I am extremely pained to learn that the Indian government has preferred to ignore them.'' Mr Bhatt said it was ''unimaginable'' to even think of the history of the country's freedom struggle without a reference to their contributions.

Appealing to the Centre to reconsider its approach to celebrating the 150th anniversary of the 1857 War of Independence, he said the Gujarat government was constructing a memorial for freedom fighter Shrikrishna Verma in Kutch.

Similarly, there is a plan to construct a memorial in the honour of Sardar Patel at Karamsad.

''The Centre should help the state government in these plans,'' he said.

UNI