Muzaffarnagar (UP), Apr 13 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said that Ahilyabai Holkar was the ruler of Malwa, but remained dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of the entire country.
He also said that great personalities should be respected and not confined within narrow caste boundaries. Adityanath was in Muzaffarnagar to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of 423 projects worth over Rs 951 crore.
During the programme, Adityanath also unveiled the statue of Holkar and, while visiting an employment fair, distributed appointment letters to the youth, the UP government said in a statement.
“The 350th birth anniversary of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar was celebrated across the country last year with great enthusiasm under the inspiration of Prime Minister Modi. At that time, the central and state governments decided that to keep her legacy alive, working women hostels would be constructed. At present, 14 working women hostels are under construction in the state, which will draw attention to her legacy,” Adityanath said.
He also said that from Jagannath Puri to Somnath, from Kashi Vishwanath to Rameshwaram, during the period of India’s subjugation when the system was constrained due to Mughal invaders, Holkar worked with dedication to preserve India’s heritage.
“She showed the country what an ideal model of justice and good governance looks like. She was the ruler of Malwa, but remained dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of the entire country,” Adityanath said.
He added Kashi Vishwanath temple is an example of this, which was rebuilt by Holkar after it was demolished by Aurangzeb.
“The contributions of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar and Chaudhary Charan Singh were not for any caste or individual, but for the nation. Because of their contributions, we are here today. Great personalities should be respected and not confined within narrow caste boundaries,” he said.
“The country became enslaved when such great personalities were divided along caste lines,” Adityanath said.
He asked whether the clarion call given by Dhan Singh Kotwal in the First War of Independence was for any caste.
“Were those who were martyred in Muzaffarnagar sacrificing for their families? Did Rani Lakshmibai, Maharana Pratap, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Guru Gobind Singh fight for any caste? No, they fought for the nation and dharma and sacrificed everything for their protection,” the UP chief minister said.
Referring to former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, the UP CM said that Singh spoke for the welfare of all. He spoke for farmers, villages, workers, youth, fields and agriculture. He never spoke about caste, and that is his greatness, Adityanath said.
“These great personalities are national icons, guides of society and the nation. A national hero has no caste. A national hero is one who gives direction to the country. Youth draw inspiration from them. When an Indian soldier fights at the border, he does not see caste, he sees the nation. If any enemy tries to infiltrate the country, the Indian soldier gives a befitting reply. He belongs to every caste, but his identity is one, India.
“Therefore, national issues should not be politicised and some areas should be kept above politics, where the nation remains supreme,” Adityanath said.
He also said that on Tuesday, the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar will be celebrated.
The government recently decided that wherever statues of Ambedkar, Sant Ravidas, Maharshi Valmiki, Sant Gadge ji and Mahatma Jyotiba Phule are installed in public places, if there is no boundary wall or canopy, the government will provide funds for it. The government will ensure protection of these statues, build boundary walls and provide a roof, he said. PTI NAV MNK MNK
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.