Chandigarh, November 11: Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal while speaking at the programme held as a part of ongoing series of  celebrations of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav across the State held at Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh today said that this year as the entire nation is  celebrating the 75th year of Independence,  a series of programmes have been held across Haryana under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, marking the glorious history of our country.

"During the period of slavery, many brave heroes made supreme sacrifices of their lives to ensure the freedom of the country. As a  result of which we are today able to breathe freely," said Chief Minister.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister announced that the same  series of plays would be held in all district centres across Haryana.  He said that proper lodging and food arrangements would be made for these artists.

He also announced a cash reward of Rs. 11,000 per artist who participated in the play. Around 30 artists acted in the play.

Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Shri Gian Chand Gupta, Haryana Power Minister, Sh. Ranjit Singh, Haryana Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister, Sh. J.P Dalal and MLA Sohana, Sanjay Singh also remained present on this occasion. 

The Chief Minister  said that in this great saga of independence,  the revolution of 1857 is among one of the most renowned sagas of the freedom movement, which is read and heard even today and certainly Haryana has made an unforgettable contribution in this freedom struggle. This can be gauged from the fact that this revolution first started from Ambala Cantonment itself, he added.

"Today, celebrating the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, while staging this mesmerizing play  '1857 ka Sangram Haryana ke Veeron ke naam', is a very commendable effort.  On this occasion, I bow to the immortal martyrs who have sacrificed  their lives  for the freedom of the country. Through this play the artists have beautifully depicted the life story of the sacrifices of those bravehearts," said Sh. Manohar Lal.

The Chief Minister said that be it the first or Second World War, Indo-Pak war of 1965 or 1971, Rezangala war with China in 1962 or 'Operation Vijay' of Kargil, the soldiers of Haryana always wrote history with their blood. Despite representing only  2 percent of the country's population, every 10th  soldier in the army is from Haryana, he added.

Laduing the artists and writer of the play, the Chief Minister said that this is the first time such a play has been organised highlighting the supreme sacrifices made by brave soldires of Haryana including Raja Nahar Singh and Rao Tula Ram.

"I assure full cooperation to these artists for organising such plays across Haryana, so that the young generation can be made aware of the sacrifices made by brave heros of Haryana," said Sh. Manohar Lal.

Sh. Manohar Lal said that  heroes of Haryana have sacrificed their everything for the honor and glory of the country. We will always be proud of our martyrs.

 Earlier, Director General, Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, Dr. Amit Agrawal shared that in order to preserve  the memories of the fighters and showcasing the glories of their bravery,  the department is constructing a war memorial in an area of around 22 acres in Ambala Cantonment in honour of the martyrs of India's first freedom struggle. The construction of this memorial is about to be completed. Besides this, remembering the sacrifice made by Rao Tularam, the great son of Haryana,  who fought the British firmly at Nasibpur in Mahendragarh district, a memorial will soon be built in Nasibpur on 41 kanals of land,  he added.

Chief Secretary, Sh. Vijai Vardhan, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister,  Sh. V.Umashankar, ADGP CID, Sh. Alok Mittal and other senior officers of Information Public Relations and Languages Department remained present.