War Memorial cries for attention



Vandalised: Film posters, pamphlets pasted all around the War Memorial in Kadapa.

KADAPA: Independence Day is a solemn occasion to reminisce the sacrifices of valiant martyrs who laid down their lives in the freedom movement, but the War Memorial at Yerramukkapalle in Kadapa city, built in memory of valiant soldiers who laid down their lives in wars stood in a neglected state.

Some ex-servicemen visited the Memorial and hoisted the Tricolour on the occasion of Independence Day, but neither Minister for Minority Welfare Mohd. Ahmedullah nor senior district officials laid a wreath or paid homage on the solemn occasion on Sunday. Kadapa Municipality had allotted a circular site in the 1990s to the Kadapa District Ex-Servicemen Pensioners' Association, which constructed the memorial with voluntary contributions from the office-bearers of the association and under the guidance of the district Collector, who is Chairman of the Zilla Sainik Board.

Then district Collector, P. Subramanyam, who was killed in a helicopter crash along with former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in last September, laid the foundation stone on the Independence Day in 1993. His successor Veena Ish inaugurated the War Memorial on December 7, 1995, in memory of “unknown soldiers of Kadapa district who sacrificed their lives in past wars for your (citizens) tomorrow”.

The War Memorial, which is in a traffic island remained dusty with its paint worn out, film posters and pamphlets of various organisations and associations pasted all around and pieces of torn political party flags hanging from the insignia of “a rifle with a soldier's helmet” on top of the memorial. However, the memorial too was illuminated with serial lighting on Independence Day on par with several government offices and other traffic islands in Kadapa city.

Nevertheless, the Minister Ahmedullah paid rich tributes in the 64th I-Day celebrations on Police Parade Grounds to martyrs. He felicitated freedom-fighters – Aijaiah, 93, K. Chinnaiah, 74, Capt. Janakiram, 74 and S. Narasimhulu, 84 - who participated in the 64th Independence Day celebrations in the Police Parade grounds here.
Source: The Hindu

RPidugu

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