CPM unhappy with Centre146;s 145;attitude146; to 1857 fete

Critcising the UPA government for the way it intends to celebrate 150 years of the First War of Independence, the CPIM has laid down the details for its eight-month long programme to commemorate the 1857 anniversary.

Critcising the UPA government for the way it intends to celebrate 150 years of the First War of Independence, the CPIM has laid down the details for its eight-month long programme to commemorate the 1857 anniversary.

Politburo member Sitaram Yechury today said the 8220;governmental attitude8221; to the celebration of the First War of Independence is disappointing. There8217;s not even a 8220;historian worth his name8221; in the Government panel announced for the celebration, Yechury said at a press conference. The government, he said, should be using the fund earmarked for the programme in a more useful manner rather than taking out advertisements.

The Government should be doing progarmmes in colleges and schools to educate the youth about the significance and relevance of the event, the CPIM leader said. He said a lot of facts about the movement are still suppressed and they need to be brought to light. 8220;We need to tell the younger generation what the legacy of 1857 has been,8221; Yechury said.

Meanwhile, the party will organise many programmes at different levels to mark the occasion. 8220;Besides being the 150th year of First War of Independence, this year also marks the 250th year of the Battle of Plassey and the 60th year of Indian Independence,8221; Yechury said.

Apart from the party8217;s weekly organ People8217;s Democracy having a section on this, delineating various aspects of the movement, the party will hold various programmes at different levels.

8220;The First War of Independence was the biggest mass movement till then,8221; Yechury said, adding it was a movement against imperialism and colonisalism where the real unity of different castes and classes were shown. 8220;The upper castes and the lower castes, the Hindus and the Muslims, all came together in the fight against imperialism,8221; he said.