Lok Sabha Election 2024, Phase 1: Voting on 102 seats underway
In the first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024, as many as 102 constituencies spanning across 21 states and Union Territories will elect their new MPs.
Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel said on Monday that heroines of the freedom movement such as Veerangana Laxmibai gave a new direction to the country and enhanced women’s empowerment.
Addressing the 19th ‘Veerangana Laxmibai Balidan Mela’ on the 160th death anniversary of Rani of Jhansi on Monday evening in Gwalior, Anandiben, who was the chief guest, said several women served and fought for the country.
“Martyrs, revolutionaries, great men and sages sacrificed a lot to save their country’s independence, respect and culture,” she said, adding “their ideals, messages, preaching should be taught to students in schools and colleges”.
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The Governor praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s schemes which are being run for women’s empowerment. She said as a result women were now setting new records in every field.
Before reaching the programme venue, the governor paid floral tributes at the Laxmibai Samadhi (cenotaph) where Rani of Jhansi lost her life during the freedom struggle against the British on 18 June 1858.
MP Higher Education Minister and organiser of the mela, Jaibhan Singh Pabaiya, and Health Minister Rustam Singh also paid floral tributes at the Samadhi of Veeranganga.
The Governor honoured Sunita Narain and Vandana Shiva with MP Government’s National Veerangana Laxmibai National Award for 2016-17 and 2018-19 respectively. A sum of Rs 2 lakh, a certificate of appreciation and a shawl is given to the awardees.
Pabaiya said the Mela has instilled patriotic feelings in youth. MP ministers Maya Singh, Rustam Singh and Narayan Singh Kushwaha, mayor Vivek Shejwalkar and collector A K Verma were also present.
The Bande Matram group performed the ‘Khoob Ladi Mardani’ grand-play in which the life of Laxmibai was showcased by over 300 male, female and child artistes. The group was well equipped with camels, horses, raths and buggies.
An all-India poets conference was also held in which well-known poets and lyricists read their patriotic compositions.
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