Uttar Pradesh govt to celebrate 24 January as UP Diwas, to mark state's christening in 1950

Lucknow: The Yogi Adityanath goverment decided to celebrate ‘UP Diwas’ on 24 January, the day the erstwhile United Provinces was rechristened as Uttar Pradesh, by showcasing the state’s rich cultural heritage. [caption id=“attachment_3418850” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of Yogi Aditiyanath. PTI[/caption] The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by the chief minister on Tuesday. “BJP and the Yogi Adityanath government believe that the identity of the state and the country lies in its birth. The Cabinet has decided to celebrate 24 January as UP Diwas,” said Cabinet minister Sidharth Nath Singh. The United Provinces unit was renamed as Uttar Pradesh on 24 January, 1950. A committee of ministers and officials would be formed to plan for UP Diwas and supervise preparations for celebrating the day with fervour across the state on 24 January, next year, an official said. He said a range of programmes would be organised to mark the day and people would be made aware of the state’s history, culture and contribution to freedom struggle. An event would be organised in Lucknow where the chief minister and governor would be present, he said. Governor Ram Naik had in 2014 asked the then chief minister Akhilesh Yadav to observe UP Diwas on 24 January in 2015.