Rally to commemorate 150th year of 1857 war begins

Union Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar today flagged off the National Youth Rally from Kranti Park to commemorate 150th year of, 1857 war, Indias first war of independence.

Meerut/New Delhi, May 7 : Union Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar today flagged off the National Youth Rally from Kranti Park to commemorate 150th year of, 1857 war, India's first war of independence.

On its way to Delhi the rally would stop at three places, namely; Modinagar, Muradnagar and Gaziabad.

Around 30, 000 youths, including over 6, 000 women, from 623 districts of the country will participate in the rally.

After covering a distance of around 80 kilometres, the rally, on its arrival to Delhi on May 11, will be addressed by Congress president and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Yesterday, Aiyar had called upon the youths to uphold the ideals of national integration, secularism and unity in diversity to carry forward the message of martyrs of the war.

Uttar Pradesh Governor T V Rajeshwar was also present at a function organised on the eve of the rally.

A book "Meerut 1857 Sanjhi Shahadat ke Kuch Phool" was also released on the occasion.

The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a prolonged period of armed uprisings in different parts of the country against British occupation.

This war brought about the end of the British East India Company's rule in India, and led to direct rule by the British Government of much of the Indian subcontinent for the next 90 years.

ANI