Explorer

Everything Must Be Re-Invented Post 2014?: Congress Attacks BJP Over 'Extinguishing Of Amar Jawan Jyoti'

Meanwhile, sources in the Government of India said that the Amar Jawan Jyoti flame won’t be put off but "will be merged with the flame at the National War Memorial."

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has slammed the Centre over the "extinguishing" of the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate in the national capital, which has been there for 50 years now. The senior Congress leader took to Twitter to express his discontent and said that “it is a matter of great sadness.” 

“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!” wrote the Congress MP. 

“The Amar Jawan Jyoti flame at India Gate will be extinguished and merged with the flame at the National War Memorial on Friday in a ceremony," an Indian Army official had told ANI. 

ALSO READ: PM Modi To Inaugurate New Circuit House Today Located Near Somnath Temple

Meanwhile, ANI quoted sources from the Government of India as saying that the Amar Jawan Jyoti flame won’t be put off but will be merged with the flame at the National War Memorial. “The flame of Amar Jawan Jyoti is not being extinguished. It is being merged with flame at National War Memorial. It was an odd thing to see that the flame at Amar Jawan Jyoti paid homage to martyrs of 1971 & other wars but none of their names are present there,” sources in the Government said. 

“The names inscribed on the India Gate are of only some martyrs who fought for the British in World War 1 & the Anglo-Afghan War & thus is a symbol of our colonial past,” it was further said. 

Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor also opposed the move and wrote, “This government has no respect for democratic tradition & established convention, whether in parliament or out of it. The sanctity acquired after fifty years of the Amar Jawan Jyoti is being lightly snuffed out.”

Another senior Congress leader Manish Tewari termed the move as “national tragedy” and said, “Whatever is being done is a national tragedy and an attempt to rewrite history. Merging Amar Jawan Jyoti with War Memorial Torch means erasing history. BJP has built the National War Memorial, that does not mean they can extinguish the Amar Jawan Jyoti.”

ALSO ON ABPLIVE: Delhi CM Kejriwal Writes To L-G To End Weekend Curfew, Suggests To Remove Odd-Even System In Markets

The India Gate War Memorial was built by the British Government in memory of those British Indian soldiers who lost their lives between 1914 and 1921. The Amar Jawan Jyoti was included in the India Gate War Memorial structure in the 1970s after India’s victory over Pakistan.

The National War Memorial was built by the Narendra Modi-led government and was inaugurated in 2019. This War Memorial contains names of all the Indian Defence personnel who lost their lives during different operations from the 1947-48 war with Pakistan till the clash in the Galway valley with the Chinese Army. 

View More
Advertisement
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headlines

BJP Releases 'Chargesheet' Against AAP Ahead Of Delhi Polls, Corners Kejriwal On 10 Issues
BJP Releases 'Chargesheet' Against AAP Ahead Of Delhi Polls, Corners Kejriwal On 10 Issues
Six Accused Who Vandalised Actor Allu Arjun’s Hyderabad Residence Get Bail
Six Accused Who Vandalised Actor Allu Arjun’s Hyderabad Residence Get Bail
3 'Khalistani' Terrorists Gunned Down In Encounter With Police In Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit
3 'Khalistani' Terrorists Gunned Down In Encounter With Police In Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit
PV Sindhu Marries Venkata Datta Sai In Udaipur: Check Out First Pic
PV Sindhu Marries Venkata Datta Sai In Udaipur: Check Out First Pic
Advertisement
ABP Premium

Videos

Sambhal News: Two New Corridors Found in Ancient Stepwell Excavation in ChandausiLucknow Police Encounters Robbers, Arrests Trio Involved in Bank Heist, One InjuredSambhal Stepwell Excavation: Truth to be Revealed, Major Discoveries Await - ABP NewsProtests Outside Allu Arjun's House Over 'Pushpa 2' Stampede Incident, Accused Granted Bail

Photo Gallery

Embed widget