Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting M. Venkaiah Naidu on Friday called upon people from all sections of society to re-dedicate themselves to protecting ‘Swarajya’ (Independence) while striving to convert it into ‘Surajya’ (good rule).
Presiding over an impressive gathering of freedom fighters, artistes, poets and people from other sections of the society at a function titled ‘70 Independence Day- Yaad Karo Qurbani’ as part of the ongoing ‘Tiranga Yatra’, he made a special reference to the Quit India Movement of 1942.
“It’s time for us all to learn to live together and work to ensure that communalism, social evils, poverty, illiteracy, atrocities against women and children and a host of other maladies ‘quit’ India,” he said.
Mr. Naidu said it was imperative that all necessary steps were taken to counter derisive and divisive forces. Towards this end, awareness was required to be created among all sections of the society, he said, adding that this was the very reason that the services of artistes and poets were being enlisted.
Union Minister for Science & Technology, Y.S. Chowdary, said it was with great difficulty that the country got freedom, thanks to the sacrifices of people. “It is sad that now we are struggling to protect the hard-won Independence. We need to give a direction to the younger generations,” he urged.
Among others present were MP M. Muralimohan, MLAs K. Laxman, Chintala Ramachandra Reddy and G. Kishan Reddy, film director K. Raghavendra Rao and music director Keeravani, apart from a host of poets and intellectuals. Earlier, Mr. Keeravani sang a popular song written by Jaladi Raja Rao from the film Major Chandrakanth (1993) starring NTR as the video was beamed on large screens. Photo, book exhibition
Later, Mr. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated a photo and book exhibition of the Publications Division of the Government of India, marking the 70 Independence Day, at People’s Plaza.
A 10 per cent discount is being offered on books. The exhibition will be on from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. till August 23.
