Pune, Feb 23 (FN Agency) Spokesman of Maharashtra State Unit of Congress Party Mr Gopaldada tiwari today said that former president of Indian National Congress and First Education Minister of the Country Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was the first freedom fighter. Tiwari was speaking at function at a function organised at the Congress House by Pune City Minority Cell of Congress Party to mark death anniversary of the legendary freedom fighter.
Speaking at the occasion, Mr Tiwari said, “When Mahatma Gandhi staged the first Salt Satyagraha, the number of lathi and gun wielding policemen and soldiers deployed by the British to foil the agitation was double the number of Satyagrahis. Followers of Mahatma Gandhi were well aware that the first one to touch the salt would be the first one to suffer the blow of lathi of the British. However, there was tough competition among them to be the first one to lift the salt. Bapuji chose Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to be the first satyagrahi to pick up the salt and all other freedom fighters followed the suit to begin civil disobedience movement against the British rule.
The British beat up Maulana Azad and every other satyagrahi who picked up the salt after him with lathis. Such was the legend of Maulana Azad, the great freedom fighter and former President of Indian National Congress.”