Press Release, May 12, 2018
‘Save National Heritage March’ held from Meerut to Delhi
Dr. Prem Singh, Socialist Party (India)
Socialist Party (India) and Khudai Khidmatgar took out the ‘Save National Heritage March’ from martyrs’ memorial, Meerut to Lal Qila, Delhi on May 10, 2018, in memory of the martyrs of 1857. Citizens of Meerut and Delhi participated enthusiastically in the March. In the morning on 10 May, tributes were paid to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev by garlanding their statues established in the campus of Chaudhary Charan Singh University. Tributes were also paid to Dhan Singh Kotwal, a prominent local leader of the 1857 revolt, whose statue is also established in the city. After that, people reached the martyrs’ memorial and offered salute and tributes to the martyrs of 1857.
A seminar was organised on the topic ‘Why the Revolution of 1857 Should be Remembered’ in the famous ‘Freedom Fighter Mohammed Miyan House’ of Meerut city. Speaking in the seminar as the key speaker, senior journalist Arun Tripathi said that the Revolution of 1857 should be remembered for its two basic goals—Hindu–Muslim unity and anti-imperialism. A discussion was also held at the Sheikh-ul-Hindu Academy, in which many speakers highlighted the importance of the revolutionaries of 1857 and national heritage.
In the evening, the marches proceeded to Delhi, distributing pamphlets and addressing meetings on the way. Prominent citizens from all walks of life joined the march in Delhi. They marched from the Khooni Darwaza to Lal Qila raising slogans and distributing pamphlets. The ‘Save National Heritage March’ concluded at Lal Qila’s main gate in the evening.
General public gathered in a large number at the venue. Dr. Prem Singh, President, Socialist Party (India), said that the Socialist Party, in a memorandum to the President of India, has demanded that the mortal remains of Bahadur Shah Zafar be brought to Delhi from Rangoon and a huge memorial in memory of the martyrs of 1857 be built. He further said that the Socialist Party will launch a nationwide campaign against the government’s decision of selling the national heritage to corporate houses. He also informed the audience that the Socialist Party will hold a rally on the occasion of the Quit India Movement Day, 9 August, against the government.
