Rajya Sabha pays tributes to martyrs of Quit India Movement on 73rd anniversary

NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha today paid homage to martyrs of freedom struggle on the eve of 73rd anniversary of the Quit India movement.

When the House met for the day, Chairman Hamid Ansari mentioned that August 9 will mark the 73rd anniversary of the clarion call given by Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi for the British rulers to Quit India in 1942.

The upsurge of the nationalist sentiment by Gandhi's call for 'Do or Die' culminated in achieving of independence five years later, he said.

The House paid homage to those who laid down their lives in the freedom struggle and those who underwent tremendous sufferings for the cause of the nation.

Members stood in silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the martyrs.

The House also mourned the death of its former member Jagannath Singh, who died on August 3 at the age of 69 years.

An agriculturist and social worker, Singh represented Madhya Pradesh in the Upper House from 1992 to 1998.

"In the passing away of Jagannath Singh, the country has lost an able Parliamentarian and a dedicated social worker," Ansari said.