Chandigarh, December 3- Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal said that War Memorials have their own significance and the nation should be proud of its martyrs.

Divulging details of the War Memorial being built in Ambala Cantonment he said that the Memorial is being built to commemorate the martyrs of India's first war of freedom of 1857 and emphasis will be laid on the martyrs belonging to the state of Haryana, especially Ambala and its nearby areas as this war of independence originates from here.

The Chief Minister was today presiding over a meeting regarding the ‘Haryana Bhawan' being built at 'Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat Complex' near 'Statue of Unity' in Gujarat today. Home Minister, Mr. Anil Vij was also present in the meeting. It was informed in the meeting that the construction work of this War Memorial being built on an area of 22 acres in Ambala is likely to be completed by March 31, 2022. This War Memorial will have an open Air Theatre on an area spanning 5,000 square metres which can accommodate 2,000 persons. It will have an exhibition hall, food court, rehearsal room etc. An Interpretation Centre will also be built here on a stretch of 2,750 square metres, which will include a VIP lounge and a Conference Room, War Memorial Orientation Room, Shops, Children's Play Area, Reception etc. A museum will also be built here on an area of 11,000 square metres.

In addition, there will be Auditorium, Water Body, and Memorial Towers also. It was also apprised in the meeting that the Memorial is likely to attract a large number of tourists owing to its proximity to the National Highway, which will further boost the state’s revenue.

Home Minister, Mr. Anil Vij directed the concerned officials to include Rakhigarhi in this War Memorial. He said that the museum being built in Ambala will display the history of the first war of freedom. It will also depict the prominent places of revolution, including Ambala, Meerut, and Delhi, and the valour of brave hearts like Jhansi's Rani Laxmibai, Tantya Tope, and Bahadur Shah Zafar. The symbol of war of freedom Lotus and Chapati (referring to Lotus and Chapati Movement in 1857) will also be exhibited here.

Likewise, the architecture marvel of the state building being built by the Government of Haryana in 'Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat Complex', on an area, spread across 28 acres of land near the 'Statue of Unity' on the banks of the Narmada River in Gujarat would be such that that the spectators will identify it from a distance that this building represents Haryana. The shlokas from the religious text ‘Gita’ will be engraved on the walls of this building. Sharing more details of the Memorial he said that connection between Dharamkshetra, Kurukshetra and Dwarka will also be depicted here to attract people.

It is noteworthy that Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal laid the foundation stone of this 'Haryana Bhawan' on January 1, 2019. Chief Secretary, Mr. Vijai Vardhan, Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr. D.S. Dhesi, Additional Chief Secretary of Public Works (Building and Roads) and Architecture Departments, Mr. Alok Nigam, Additional Chief Secretary of Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, Mrs. Dheera Khandelwal, Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Local Bodies Department, Mr. S.N. Roy, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr. V. Umashankar, Mr. Amit Arya, Deputy Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mrs. Ashima Brar, Principal Secretary of Forest and Wildlife Department, Mrs. G. Anupama, Principal Secretary, Tourism Department, Mr. M.D. Sinha, Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training, Mr. Pankaj Agarwal, Director General of Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, Mr. P.C. Meena and the advisor of the Resource Mobilization Cell in the Chief Minister's Office, Mr. Yogendra Chaudhary, and other senior officers were also present.