‘Salute to Armed Forces’ at India Gate
The commendable courage and valour displayed by armed forces while saving the lives of over one lakh people during recent calamity in Uttarakhand was applauded by the youth on July 2. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) organised ‘Salute to Armed Forces Diwas’ across the country to recognise the courage of the soldiers. The prime objective of the event was to energise the youth to join the Army in good number. First the event was organised in different colleges and universities on June 28 and then it was organised with the general public on July 1 and 2.
Thousands of students participated in the function organised at India Gate in New Delhi on July 2. The function was originally to be organised near Amar Jawan Jyoti, but the Police denied permission at the eleventh hour and heavy barricading was done to prevent people from entering the India Gate premises from the morning itself, hence, the venue was shifted to Kasturba Gandhi Marg. Students from many educational institutions participated in the programme.
“The soldiers again made us proud by their valour displayed in Uttarakhand. We find it our duty to acknowledge their great job and pay our gratitude. That’s why such functions were conducted all over the country,” said ABVP general secretary Shri Umesh Datt while talking to Organiser in New Delhi. A two minute silence was also observed to pay tribute to the deceased in Uttarakhand.
Addressing the gathering Shri Umesh Dutt criticised the models of development which led to degeneration of nature in Uttarakhand. He said nature should not be harmed in the process of development. He praised the soldiers and recounted army’s contribution at times of external aggressions as well as in fighting internal disturbances like naxalism etc.
Shri Datt informed that a team of ABVP activists would visit Uttarakhand to conduct a survey of damage in 1000 villages so that the rehabilitation work could be conduct properly. He said the Vidyarthi Parishad workers would also make arrangements for rebuilding the damaged schools, rearrangements of tables, chairs, books and copies for the students. He said the ABVP workers are also helping in the cremation of the dead bodies in the affected areas.
—Aniruddha Subhedar
