New Delhi: In a significant development, the Uttar Pradesh Madrasa Shiksha Parishad has directed all madrasas affiliated to it to unfurl national flag and recite national anthem on August 15 – the day when the entire nation will celebrate the 70th anniversary of our independence from the 'British Raj'.

UP Madrasa Shiksha Parishad has also issued a circular in this regard and asked all madrasas affiliated to it to comply with its orders. The move holds significance since this is probably the first time that the madrasas have been asked to hold cultural programmes on Independence Day. The Yogi Adityanath government had recently asked madrasas affiliated to the UP Madrasa Shiksha Parishad to pay tribute to freedom fighters and hold cultural programmes on August 15.

The circular issued by UP Madrasa Shiksha Parishad to district minority welfare officers also states that along with photographs, videos be shot of the programmes. The circular urges officers to keep video-recordings of the events at all the madrasas. At present, around 8,000 madrasas in UP are recognised by the Parishad. Among these, 560 are fully aided by the state.

According to the circular, the flag hoisting and recitation of the National Anthem will be take place at 8 am. Following this, tribute will be paid to the martyrs of the freedom struggle. Students have been asked to sing songs on nationalism and discuss the history of August 15 and the freedom fighters. The circular also calls for holding cultural programmes based on the theme of national unity, along with sports activities. Sweets will be distributed at the end of the session. Importantly, the parishad has also sent the text of the National Anthem in both Hindi and Urdu.