RS adopts resolution to make India strong, secular, self-reliant

On the 75th anniversary of the 'Quit India' Movement, the Upper House of Parliament on Wednesday adopted a resolution recalling the heroic sacrifice of millions of Indians in the freedom struggle and vowing to make India strong, self-reliant and secular.

Chairman Hamid Ansari read out the resolution, after which the house unanimously adopted it.

"This House recalls that 75 years ago, Mahatma Gandhi called for British to quit India and gave the clarion call to 'do or die' to the Indian people to end the British rule," Ansari said reading out the resolution.

"This House observes that on the 75th anniversary of the 'Quit India' Movement, it is important to remember the heroic struggle of the Indian people, students, peasants, women workers and government officials, who defied the brutal repression of the British Raj to lunch mass Satyagrah that shook the very foundations of the British rule," he said.

"This is also an occasion to recall with gratitude the sacrifices of millions of our people and salute the memory of thousands of Indians, who gave their lives for the freedom of India.

"And on this day, (this House) solemnly takes a pledge to uphold and safeguard the values and ideals of the freedom movement and rededicate ourselves to build an India that is strong, self reliant, inclusive, secular and democratic," he said.

The members unanimously adopted the resolution amid the thumping of desks.

--IANS

mak/nir/vt