Lagatar24 Desk
Bhopal, June 1: Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, sent greetings to the Bhopal people on Thursday in honour of Bhopal Gaurav Diwas and declared that June 1 will be a public holiday in Bhopal from next year.
“Today we celebrate Bhopal Gaurav Divas and also Independence Day. Bhopal did not get independence on August 15, 1947, the day on which India got independence. At that time the then Nawab of Bhopal refused the merger of Bhopal into India. After that, there was a movement initiated to make Bhopal independent,” CM Chouhan said.
The then-Nawab of Bhopal was compelled to incorporate Bhopal into India, he said, because of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s firm stance and the public outcry.
“On June 1, 1949, Bhopal became an integral part of India, so it has been decided that Bhopal Gaurav Diwas will be celebrated every June 1. I pay tribute to all the freedom fighters and martyrs who were martyred in Boras in Raisen district. I extend greetings to all the residents of Bhopal on the occasion of Bhopal Gaurav Divas,” the CM added.
We shall establish a research institute to conduct research on Bhopal because it is important that everyone understand the true history of the city, he said.
As Bhopal was formally incorporated into India on June 1, Gaurav Diwas will be observed along with a government holiday beginning the next year. The chief minister added that this was done so that future generations would know that Bhopal joined with India on June 1 and that we could honour the revolutionaries and martyrs who gave their lives in the process.