Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan flagged off the Bhopal Gaurav Daud (Bhopal pride run) from the statue of Raja Bhoj at Bhoj Taal VIP road this morning. The citizens of Bhopal, especially the youths, enthusiastically participated in this run. Large number of citizens participated in the Bhopal Gaurav Daud of about 3 kilometers from Raja Bhoj Statue to Bhopal Boat Club.

While congratulating the citizens on Bhopal Gaurav Diwas, Chouhan said that Bhopal did not become independent on August 15, 1947, at the time of the country's independence. At that time the then Nawab had refused to merge the princely state of Bhopal with the Indian Union. For this, the citizens had to struggle and Bhopal became independent on June 1, 1949 only after the sacrifice of many fighters as a result of the merger movement. Youngsters were also martyred in this movement in Boras of Raisen district. Chouhan paid floral tributes to the martyrs of the merger movement.

Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang, Bhopal Mayor Smt. Malti Rai, former Mayor Alok Sharma, Commissioner Bhopal Division Mal Singh, Collector Bhopal Ashish Singh, public representatives and a large number of youths were present.

Chouhan said that today thousands of youths and citizens of Bhopal are participating in the Gaurav Daud with a sense of pride and enthusiasm. Bhopal has got the status of the cleanest capital. Now Bhopal has to be made the cleanest city of India. Our Bhopal should be a clean and a green city, this should be the resolve of all of us. Chouhan said that he plants three saplings daily. The participation of citizens, especially the youth, in environmental protection is increasing. The city of Bhopal is the city of Raja Bhoj, the city of Queen Kamalapati and the city of all of us. Everyone together make Bhopal green and clean.

The Chief Minister said that the immense enthusiasm of the youths is being seen in this Gaurav Daud on the Gaurav Diwas. It seems as if the whole of Bhopal is running. Let us all together take a pledge to take Bhopal forward. For this, every citizen has to adopt some noble deed.

Do take the responsibility of doing at least one thing. These include cleanliness, planting trees, educating girls, conservation of energy, saving electricity, etc. Along with the government, the society should also become a partner in the works of development. In today's programme, Dr. Alok Gupta and Smt. Anuradha Gupta from the family of Bhai Ratan Kumar, a diligent patriot of merger movement, were also present on the occasion of flagging off of Bhopal Gaurav Daud.

Earlier, Chouhan along with other public representatives flagged off the Bhopal Gaurav Daud releasing balloons and himself became a part of the run. A team of popular RJs from Bhopal handled the task of conducting the programme. Bhopal Gaurav Daud witnessed wide participation of citizens from both new and old parts of Bhopal.