New Delhi, Jan 20 (UNI) The Centre on Wednesday asked States and Union Territories (UTS) to ensure the observance of two minutes silence on the Martyrs’ Day on January 30 in the memory of all those who have sacrificed during freedom struggle.

In a communication, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that on January 30, every year, two minutes silence is observed at 11 AM throughout the country, in the memory of those who sacrificed their lives during the struggle for India's freedom.

While giving instructions, the MHA said, “Silence should be observed and work and movement stopped for two minutes throughout the country at 11 AM on January 30. Wherever feasible, the commencement and termination of the two minutes’ silence period should be indicated by the sound of a siren or Army guns.”

Adding specifics the Ministry further said “Sirens should be sounded from 10.59 hours till 11.00 hours and after two minutes, all clear sirens should again be sounded from 11.02 hours till 11.03 hours. This procedure may be adopted where sirens exist.”

At places, where no signal systems are available, the Ministry has asked to give suitable instructions to all concerned for observing the silence for two minutes at 11 AM.

The MHA has noted in the letter that in the past, it has been observed that while two minutes’ silence is observed in some offices, the general public goes about its occupation in the ordinary course, “unmindful of the solemnity” of the occasion.

The State/UT Governments are requested to ensure that the Martyrs’ Day is observed with due solemnity. They may issue instructions to all educational institutions and Public Sector Enterprises under their control for the observance of the Martyrs’ Day accordingly, the MHA letter reads further.

UNI AKS SHK1828