CM Yogi announces new medical college and a grand memorial of freedom fighters in Ballia on Balidan Diwas

New Delhi: In a major announcement on the occasion of ‘Balidan Diwas’ in Ballia—to which Mangal Pandey and Chittu Pandey traced their roots–Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Friday, said that the District Jail should be shifted to the outskirts, and “a grand memorial of freedom fighters should be built there.”

The Chief Minister also gave instructions to establish a Medical College in Ballia.

Addressing a public gathering at a function organized at Ballia Police Line, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, “I have been asking for land to establish a medical college in Ballia for five years but have not been getting it. The work of establishing a medical college should have been done three years ago.”

“The Chief Secretary has studied here in Ballia and he is here with us today,” the CM said, adding that “with our efforts, now the district will have a medical college of its own soon.”

Invoking Chittu Pandey and Mangal Pandey among other freedom fighters, CM Yogi said that Ballia has its history. This is the land of sages, and revolutionaries.

“In India’s freedom struggle, revolutionaries from this place have given a new identity through their sacrifice. “Mangal Pandey, the soldier whose rebellion in Barrackpore sparked the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857, became an inspiration for the entire country. In 1942, when Mahatma Gandhi gave the slogan of Quit India, Ballia declared itself as an independent nation under the leadership of great revolutionary Chittu Pandey.”

The CM further added that over 50,000 people of Ballia attacked the prison and as a result, the British administration had to release all the revolutionaries from jail.

“Chittu Pandey took the roles and responsibilities of the District Magistrate and Mahanand Mishra as Superintendent of Police. The British Government openly fired on many revolutionaries, but Ballia never stepped back from sacrificing for the sake of freedom,” he remarked.

Remembering the former PM Late Chandrashekhar, the CM said that the contribution of Chandrashekhar in the fight started by Loknayak Jayaprakash to save the democracy is unforgettable.

Yogi said that on March 12, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had carried forward the 75-week program from Sabarmati Ashram as the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav which has been extended for one more year.

Referring to the ‘Panch pran’ made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of 75th Independence Day, the CM urged people to follow the five pledges to make India the Superpower in the world. “If we all discharge our work with honesty, then no one can stop us from making this country a superpower of the world.”

Mentioning the exemplary performance of India during Covid-19 pandemic, the CM stated that under the leadership of the honorable Prime Minister the country fought the battle and defeated the virus and its spread.

It is under our govt that the welfare schemes are reaching the last rung of society without any discrimination.

Furthermore, the CM said that Ballia will be taken to a new height of development. “With the upcoming Ballia link expressway, people will be able to reach Lucknow in 2 to 2.5 hours. The Transport Minister is also from Ballia. An Airport-like bus station will also be constructed here along with facilities for e-buses,” he stated.

The CM also asked the teachers and retired teachers of degree colleges to compile the story of the revolution that broke out in the villages, towns, and streets of Ballia and assured that the government will publish it in the form of a book.

The program was attended by Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh, Minister of State for Minority Welfare, Danish Azad Ansari, Chief Secretary Durgashankar Mishra, and other dignitaries.

Before addressing the function, the Chief Minister reached the district jail and paid a heartfelt tribute to the immortal martyr Rajkumar Bagh. During this, he also flagged off the historical procession from the district jail.