'Quit India' Movement: Tributes paid to martyrs at Mumbai's August Kranti Maidan
Mumbai, Aug 9 (PTI): People from all walks of life, including political leaders, paid tribute to martyrs at the August Kranti Maidan to mark the 83rd anniversary of the 'Quit India' Movement on Saturday.
Launched by Mahatma Gandhi, the Quit India Movement, which began on August 9, 1942, was a decisive call to end British Rule and was a turning point in the country's freedom struggle.
Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal, accompanied by Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, offered floral tributes to the statue of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak in Girgaum Chowpatty and walked till the August Kranti Maidan, where they laid a wreath at the martyrs' memorial.
NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar, in a post on X, paid tributes to the martyrs of the freedom struggle.
"On this day, the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, expressed his resolve with 'Do or Die', urging Indians to fight bravely against the British and issuing a stern warning to the unjust British rule to quit India," he wrote.
This sparked a wave of discontent among people, the movement gained greater intensity and a crucial step was taken towards the path of independence, he said.
Senior NCP leader and Minister Chhagan Bhujbal paid floral tributes at the martyrs' memorial, and school children and citizens also visited the historic ground, previously known as Gowalia Tank, from where the movement was launched.
Taking to X, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said, "On this day in 1942, Mahatma Gandhi gave the message of 'Do or Die' and gave a call for the Quit India Movement against the British. The August revolution was not just a call for freedom, but a firm resolve of collective determination of all Indians for independence."
"On this historic day, we pay our heartfelt tributes to all freedom fighters who staked everything for the country and displayed sacrifice, dedication and valour," he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Women BJP MLAs protest against opposition in UP assembly premises
Lucknow (PTI): Women BJP MLAs held a protest in the Vidhan Bhawan complex before the one-day special session of Uttar Pradesh assembly, slamming the opposition for defeating the passage of a bill, which would have led to implementation of the Women's Reservation Law, in the Lok Sabha.
This followed another demonstration by Samajwadi Party MLAs, who alleged that the BJP was misleading public in the name of women's reservation.
The women BJP legislators assembled in front of Chaudhary Charan Singh's statue in the assembly premises, holding banners inscribed with the slogan "Insult to Matrushakti (women's power), India will not tolerate it". The protesting members entered the main hall of Vidhan Bhawan carrying the banners.
Participating in the protest, the state Minister for Women Welfare and Child Development, Baby Rani Maurya, told reporters that all opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, had opposed the women's reservation, a stance for which they would have to pay a heavy political price.
"On this issue, all of us women stand united. We will ensure that we secure our reservation," she said.
BJP MLA Ketki Singh remarked that their protest represents the collective outrage of millions of women across the state.
Singh asserted that the opposition has betrayed women by creating hurdles in the path of women's reservation. The current demonstration is merely the beginning, and very soon, women from every street, intersection and household will join the protest movement, she said.
Minister Vijaylakshmi Gautam said, "We strongly condemn the despicable act committed by the Samajwadi Party and the Congress in an attempt to hold back 'half the population' (women). Their action was directed against the very bill that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had introduced to empower and strengthen Nari Shakti (women's power), and which he strived to pass expeditiously."
Uttar Pradesh assembly is holding a one-day special session on Thursday. During the session, the government is set to move a censure motion against the opposition parties over their failure to pass the Constitution Amendment Bill, which would have led to implementation of the Women's Reservation Act, in the Lok Sabha.
