LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday announced that his government would set up memorials in the names of national heroes wherever possible in the state.
Yogi made the announcement when the foundation stone of a memorial in the name of 11th century king Maharaja Suheldev was laid in Bahraich.
PM Modi attended and addressed the programme virtually.
“Humare Rashtra ke mahanayakon ke prati poori shraddha aur samman ka bhaav rakhte hue jahan kahini bhi unke smarak aur unse judi smritika hogi uski sthapana ke liye poori pratibaddhata kesaath kaam karenge (We would work with full dedication to establish a memorial in the name of national heroes),” he said.
Calling him 'Dharam Rakshak’ (protector of religion) and 'Rashtra Nayak’ (National Hero), Yogi said no foreign invader mustered enough courage to attack the country because of the courage and valor shown by Suheldev.
He said that it was for the first time that Maharaja Suheldev was given due recognition by any government by getting a memorial constructed in his name.
In 2018, a postal stamp was released in the name of Suheldev by PM Narendra Modi.
The state government was following the principle of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' to ensure that the fruits of developments reach every section of the society.
“The state government would ensure that the people welfare schemes benefit every community,” he said, adding that his government was committed to provide due respect and safety to everyone.
Marking February 16 as an important day for the country, CM Yogi appreciated PM Modi and said that this is for the first time in history that any government has taken concerted steps to popularize Suheldev.
The CM also said that earlier, in February 2016, BJP chief (now home minister) Amit Shah had unveiled a statue of Suheldev and launched a book about him, in the Bahraich district near the Indo-Nepal border, where the medieval king enjoys legendary status.
After a month or two, the central government had also released a postage stamp, and ran a super-fast train — ‘The Suhel Dev Express’.
The tri-weekly covers the breadth of India’s most populous state i.e. from Ghazipur in Purvanchal to Anand Vihar in Delhi.
Remembering the Chauri Chaura incident, CM Yogi said that as a tribute to unsung heroes of freedom struggle and to sensitise the young generation about the valor of little known or unknown freedom fighters, the Yogi-led BJP government has decided to year-long centenary celebrations of the historic event.
The CM said that under the guidance of the Prime Minister, the task of reviving the memories and glorious history of Maharaja Suheldev, who was forgotten for nearly a thousand years, is being done.