Chandigarh, Apr 26 (PTI) Haryana minister Anil Vij on Sunday expressed hope that a 'Shaheed Smarak' (war memorial) dedicated to the first war of independence in 1857 being constructed in his constituency Ambala Cantonment will soon be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Once the war memorial opens, people from across the country will be able to visit, learn about the stories of unsung heroes and pay their tributes, said Vij after attending a programme to listen to Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' radio address in Ambala Cantonment.
He said the PM's mention of the 1857 uprising in his 'Mann Ki Baat' address was highly significant.
To commemorate the first war of independence, a grand war memorial is being constructed in Ambala Cantonment at a cost of around Rs 700 crore, the minister said.
The memorial vividly depicts the first war of independence that began on May 10, 1857, along with the struggles and sacrifices made across the country. It showcases key locations such as Ambala, Meerut, Jhansi and Kashmiri Gate, as well as the contributions of great warriors like Rani Lakshmibai and Tatya Tope.
During his monthly radio address, PM Modi said the month of May reminds us of the first war of independence in 1857.
"I pay my respects to all the brave sons and daughters of Mother India who awakened the spirit of patriotism in people," he said.
Vij said many heroes of 1857 did not receive due recognition in history.
"Keeping this in mind, a special 'tribute zone' has been created within the war memorial, where visitors will be able to pay homage to those martyrs who were long overlooked," he said.