UP: PM Modi inaugurates Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow; pays tribute to statues of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow, UP on Thursday. There, he unveiled and paid tribute to the statues of Jan Sangh founders Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, and former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, commemorating the 101st birth anniversary of Vajpayee. The landmark national memorial has been dedicated to the life and ideals of Vajpayee.
These statues represent the life, ideals and legacy of the three national icons. PM Modi was accompanied by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, UP Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy CMs and other top leaders.
PM Modi said, "Earlier, statues of only one family were installed; today, every great personality is being honored. Previously, only one family's achievements were celebrated. The BJP has honored the contributions of everyone."
Modi also said that today, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's statue stands on Kartavya Path in Delhi. His statue is also located in Andaman, where he hoisted the tricolor flag. No one can forget the attempts made to erase Ambedkar's legacy. The ruling family in Delhi tried to erase it. The Samajwadi Party also did the same here, but the BJP did not let it happen.
The Prerna Sthal features 65-foot-tall statues of Deendayal Upadhyaya, Syama Prasad Mookerjee, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Each statue weighs 42 tons. The Prerna Sthal is spread over 65 acres and was built at a cost of Rs 230 crore.
The Prime Minister also visited the Rashtra Prerna Sthal museum, situated adjacent to the memorial, which houses and showcases the seminal contributions of these leaders in India’s political thought, public life and nation-building.
The state-of-the-art museum, designed in the form of a lotus-shaped structure, spreads over an area of around 98,000 square feet.