City to observe 2 min silence

August 7: Sirens throughout the city will call all citizens to observe two minutes’ silence immediately after the Prime Minister I K Gujral lights the auspicious lamp at 6 pm at the August Kranti Maidan on Saturday, August 9.

Announcing the programme schedule for the `Kranti Divas’ celebrations, the minister for cultural affairs, Pramod Navalkar, told presspersons today that cannon shots will also be fired to mark the occasion. This will be followed by the Vande Mataram anthem. Six freedom fighters will be felicitated by the prime minister. Important scenes from the independence struggle will be acted out and giant screen will portray the historical sites where they took place. Around 300 artistes will be participate in the drama. Among the VIP invitees for the programme are members of the Union cabinet, chief ministers and governors of all states, MPs, MLAs, heads of defence forces, foreign dignitaries and freedom fighters.

Earlier at 8 am, noted Gandhian Usha Mehta will lead a procession of around 1,000 students from various schools for a prabhat pheri from the statue of Lokmanya Tilak at Chowpatty via Mani Bhavan to the Martyrs Memorial at the Maidan. Later in the evening, the prime minister will inaugurate an exhibition of pictures on the Freedom Struggle at the Tejpal Hall.

The Rashtra Seva Dal will stage a drama, Azadi Ki Jung at the Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishtan at Nariman Point between 11 am to 1 pm. A repeat show of this drama will held for invitees at the same time on August 10.