68th Quit India movement anniversary: Tributes paid to martyrs

Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan today called for the need to rekindle the spirit of national integration in the present generation and uphold values for which freedom fighters laid down their lives for.

Addressing a gathering at the Tejpal Hall after paying homage to the martyrs of the freedom struggle on the 68th anniversary of the Quit India movement, Chavan said the martyrs and leaders of the Independence struggle had a vision of nation building.

"We have to carry forward their vision and be committed to the unity and integrity of India," the chief minister stressed.

State Congress president Manikrao Thakre, Mumbai unit chief Kripashankar Singh, health minister Suresh Shetty and textile minister Mohammed Arif  Naseem Khan, AICC general secretary in charge of the state Mohan Prakash were prominent among those who paid floral tributes to the freedom fighters at the August Kranti Maidan, from where Mahatma Gandhi had given the clarion call of "Do or Die" which was the last struggle against the British rule.

Chavan also felicitated freedom fighters from all over the state to commemorate the occasion.

School children, political and social activists, leaders of different political parties also thronged the Maidan to pay homage to the freedom fighters.