Albert Ekka chowk, the Ranchi landmark named after the 1971 India-Pakistan war hero Paramveer Chakra Lance Naik Albert Ekka will for the first time hold Republic Day celebrations this year by unfurling the Tricolour, courtesy a city social outfit, Rashtriya Yuva Shakti (RYS).
Jinghi Dungdung, widow of Jawra Munda, who was martyred in the 2019 terror strike at Uri, will hoist the National Flag accompanied by three of children.
Uttam Yadav, president of Rashtriya Yuva Shakti (RYS), said on Monday that the move was to pay respects to those who laid their lives for the cause of the country.
“Rather than invite VIPs for flag hoisting, we decided to call a war widow to do the honours as they deserve that much respect,” he said. Yadav added their organisation has started touring the state to reach out to war veterans and help them in any way.
Rashtriya Yuva Shakti members clean up Albert Ekka's statue on Monday ahead of their R-Day programme in Ranchi on Tuesday. Telegraph picture
A day before Republic Day, the organisation launched a cleanliness drive in and around Albert Ekka Chowk. Members decked up the martyr’s bust with flowers and flags. The outfit also conducted cleanliness drives in other spots and roundabouts of the capital, namely Birsa Munda Samadhi Sthal at Kokar where tribal icon and freedom fighter Birsa Munda was laid to rest, Shaheed Chowk and Bhagat Singh Square in Chutia, among others.
Yadav said they planned to decorate the 500km-stretch from Albert Ekka Chowk to Shaheed Chowk, with flowers and Indian flags.
The programme would be open for all. “It will be a simple ceremony where the Uri martyr's widow will unfurl the Tricolor at about 11am while others are free to join. Our volunteers will ensure Covid safety protocols,” he said.
Jhingi, who lives in remote Topra block in Khunti district, couldn’t be reached for a comment as her phone was switched off. Yadav, however, claimed that the martyred jawan’s family hadn’t received any assistance from the state government so far and was battling financial woes. “Neither did she get a compensatory job after her husband was martyred, nor any financial assistance from the state government. The widow has three minor children who require assistance for their education,” Yadav said.
Rashtriya Yuva Shakti members clean up Birsa Munda Samadhi Sthal at Kokar in Ranchi on Monday. Telegraph picture
Yadav said they were touring Jharkhand to meet war veterans and families of those who lost their lives in operation. “We will prepare a comprehensive report and submit it to the state government. If it doesn’t act, we will then launch a stir to fight for their cause,” he said.
Two Indian soldiers lost their lives in the 2019 terror strike in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir. While Sepoy Jawra Munda was from Jharkhand’s Khunti district, sepoy Naiman Kujur was from Gumla district.
The state Republic Day programme would be held as usual at Ranchi’s Morabadi ground with governor Droupadi Murmu hoisting the Tricolour. Chief minister Hemant Soren will be in Dumka to hoist the flag.
A full dress rehearsal of the Republic Day function was held on Sunday. As many as 10 platoons of Jharkhand police and paramilitary forces took part. The district administration has already announced that there would not be any cultural programme at the venue in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.