New Delhi, Jan 21: (UNI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday slammed the Centre ahead of of its proposed merger of the Amar Jawan Jyoti with the flames at the National War Memorial.
As per the government’s plan, the “eternal flame” of the Amar Jawan Jyoti at the India Gate lawns will be extinguished forever on Friday at 3 pm after burning for 50 years.
The torch will be merged with the National War Memorial’s torch some 400m away, with days remaining for the 75th Republic Day ceremony.
The former Congress chief expressed sadness and tweeted: “It is a matter of great sadness that the immortal flame that used to burn for our brave soldiers will be extinguished today.”
“Some people cannot understand patriotism and sacrifice — never mind.
“We will once again light the Amar Jawan Jyoti for our soldiers.”
On Thursday, the government confirmed the move.
Another Congress leader Manish Tewari said extinguishing the Amar Jawan Jyoti means extinguishing history.
“Extinguishing Amar Jawan Jyoti tantamounts to extinguishing history…For it commentates sacrifice of those 3,483 brave soldiers who cleaved Pakistan into two parts & redrew map of South Asia post Partition.
“It is ironical that in the 50th year of liberation of Bangladesh, the Government seems to be working overtime to erase India’s finest hour in Post Independent History.
“Amar Jawan Jyoti is imbued in the National Consciousness. A billion people have grown up venerating it. Why can’t India have two eternal flames? Amar Jawan Jyoti & National War Memorial,” Tewari also tweeted.
Launching a scathing attack on the Centre over the decision senior party MP Shashi Tharoor said the Modi government has no respect for democratic tradition and established convention, be it in Parliament or outside.
“The sanctity acquired after fifty years of the Amar Jawan Jyoti is being lightly snuffed out. So everything must be reinvented post-2014?” Tharoor tweeted.
The eternal flame was lit in memory of the soldiers who were killed during the India-Pakistan war of 1971. The Amar Jawan Jyoti was inaugurated by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on January 26, 1972.
Congress attacks Centre over Amar Jawan Jyoti
