Need freedom from corruption,ugly politics,superstition: state heroes

Another freedom fighter from Satara,Sopanrao Ghorpade (90) who was jailed for over four years and was part of the ‘Patri Sarkar’ — the parallel government launched by Krantisinha Nana Patil —wanted vices and blind faith be rooted out. “The government should pass a Bill to eradicate blind faith… The guardians of society are destroying youths by distributing liquor during elections.”

Seva Dal activist Tukaram Mohite (93) from Sangli,who was also part of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement,called for an end to ugly party politics. “Welfare schemes chalked out are only on paper and the money goes somewhere else… The dreams of freedom fighters are yet to be fulfilled.”

VD Mane from Kolhapur stressed the need for irrigation and water management. He said failure to do so would make people migrate to cities,creating problems in urban areas. Former Pune Mayor and grandson of social reformer Keshavrao Jedhe,Jaisinghrao Jedhe said patriotism should be instilled among youths. “All parties should unite to ensure that Marathi-speaking areas of Belgaum,Karwar,Nipani in Karnataka are merged with the state.”

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan felicitated 35 freedom fighters who had come with soil and water from various districts at a function at Hutatma Chowk. The soil and the water would be sprinkled at the martyrs’ memorial on Saturday.

The Shiv Sena organised a function at Shivaji Park to inaugurate murals depicting life of Shivaji Maharaj,while the MNS organised a cultural event at Andheri sports complex. The BJP organised a cultural event at Kandivali while the NCP organised a rally from the Gateway of India to Hutatma Chowk around midnight to pay tributes to martyrs.

Saying it with laser
A 30-minute laser and multimedia show off Marine Drive will be the highlight of the programmes planned for the golden jubilee celebrations on Saturday. The show will showcase the cultural history and development of the state on the one-of-its-kind sea water board. The show will be divided into various capsules. Officials said the storyboard will consist of 60 frames. “Starting with Sant Dyaneshwar,symbolising the learning,to torch carried by sportsmen like Sachin Tendulkar will be shown on the story board created on the Arabian sea waterfront off Marine Drive,” a source said.