In a bid to mark the ‘Surgical Strike Day’ on 29 September, the Union government has requested lyricist Prasoon Joshi to write a special anthem “invoking patriotism in the light of surgical strike commemoration,” The Indian Express reported.
The government also plans to rope in private channels and radio stations to celebrate the operation undertaken in 2016, the daily reported.
I&B Ministry Proposes 15 Activities to Mark ‘Surgical Strike Day’
Amit Khar, Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry Secretary, details in a note dated 12 September the list of 15 activities to be taken up by the ministry.
- Ministry to Ask News Channels to Position ‘Commemoration in Programming’
Among them are a few private news channels that may be asked to “position the commemoration as part of their programming in news segment, discussion, interface with armed forces in the infotainment model,” the daily reported from Khare’s letter.
The note says the I&B secretary and the principal director-general of Press Information Bureau, the Union government’s chief spokesperson, will “liaise with” the News Broadcasting Standards Authority, a self-regulatory body for TV news, The Indian Express reported added.
- Ministry to Liaise With Radio Jockeys of Private FM Channels
The I&B ministry will liaise with the Association of Radio Operators for India. In addition, the ministry will also ask radio jockeys of private FM channels to “utilize their programming schedule” to highlight the occasion, IE reported.
Artists associated with All India Radio will sing patriotic and contemporary songs. The performances will be telecast on LED screens near India Gate.
The ministry will also make use of social media platforms to commemorate the event using a hashtag.
- Doordarshan to Screen Patriotic Films
Apart from marking the occasion with “special discussion, special news bulletin”, Doordarshan will play patriotic films such as Border, Lakshya and Ghazi Attack, the daily report added. AIR will have special programmes such as “discussions, song segments, interviews with Armed Personnel, engagement with common citizens”.
According to The Indian Express, the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) will rope in the likes of Kailash Kher to sing the special anthem that may be played “as video spots on private channels.”
UGC Issues Circular for Celebration
In a circular issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC), all the universities have been asked to celebrate the ‘Surgical Strike Day’ on 29 September, marking the operation that was undertaken in 2016, reported ANI.
The circular lists the activities which can be undertaken on that day. Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said there are no compulsions as far as the institutions are concerned.
“We have not made any compulsions on institutions or students. We have issued a program because of suggestions from many students and teachers that they need to commemorate the second anniversary of surgical strike.”Prakash Javadekar, Union HRD Minister, (as told to ANI)
“The university/colleges may organise a meeting, calling ex-servicemen who will sensitise the students about the sacrifices made by the armed forces in protecting the borders”, states the circular issued on 19 September 2018.
Students to Pledge Support for the Armed Forces
The circular also calls for students to "pledge their support" for the armed forces.
“The students shall pledge their support for the armed forces by writing letters and cards, which may be produced in both physical and digital format.”Circular issued by the University Grants Commission
JNU to Mark the ‘Surgical Strike Day’
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice-Chancellor Jagadesh Kumar said the university will be celebrating the ‘Surgical Strike Day’.
We’ll be celebrating in JNU. The university is very closely related to the defence forces. When our alumni go and fight for us at the borders, as a University, we must recognise their contribution.M Jagadesh Kumar, JNU V-C
Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said it was “absolutely shocking” and that the directive was destroying the independence of the university system.
“In fact, I don’t think since independence, we have seen UGC giving any kind of directive of this nature to the universities. For UGC, to give a directive is destroying the very independence of the university system.”Kapil Sibal, Congress leader (as told to ANI)
(With inputs from ANI, The Indian Express)
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