Maha launches jail tourism project from Pune's Yerawada prison

Maharashtra Chief Minister UddhavThackeray on Tuesday launched a jail tourism initiative in thestate with an aim to help students and other citizensexperience vignettes from history.People will be able to understand the struggles offreedom fighters by visiting jails under the new initiative,Thackeray said in a statement.The initiative was launched from the 150-year-oldYerawada prison in Pune, where several freedom fighters,including Mahatma Gandhi, Lokmanya Tilak, Pandit JawaharlalNehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Sarojini Naidu and SubhasChandra Bose, had been imprisoned under the British rule.CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray today launched a uniquejail tourism initiative.

Maharashtra Chief Minister UddhavThackeray on Tuesday launched a jail tourism initiative in thestate with an aim to help students and other citizensexperience ''vignettes from history''.

People will be able to understand the struggles offreedom fighters by visiting jails under the new initiative,Thackeray said in a statement.

The initiative was launched from the 150-year-oldYerawada prison in Pune, where several freedom fighters,including Mahatma Gandhi, Lokmanya Tilak, Pandit JawaharlalNehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Sarojini Naidu and SubhasChandra Bose, had been imprisoned under the British rule.

''CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray today launched a uniquejail tourism initiative. This will help school and collegestudents, history enthusiasts and citizens to experiencevignettes from our history,'' the Chief Ministers Office (CMO)said in a tweet.

Addressing the initiative launch event virtually, thechief minister referred to his father, Shiv Sena founder lateBal Thackerays days spent at the Yerawada prison.

The CM said he used to meet his father in the prison.

''He (Balasaheb Thackeray) used to send us letters,'' he said.

On the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar readout a letter sent from the prison by Balasaheb Thackeray tohis wife Meenatai Thackeray.

The chief minister also talked about the imprisonmentof Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar and various other freedomfighters and the plight they suffered inside jails.

''It is a novel concept. People talk about visiting(hill stations) like Mahabaleshwar and Lonavala. They may saythey have been to jail (after launch of the initiative),'' thechief minister said in a lighter vein.

''But one need not commit a crime for going to jail. Wehave shown a new path of tourism. Jail Yatra,'' an officialstatement said quoting Uddhav Thackeray.

The chief minister also said that inmates insideprisons are a ''big manpower''.

Efforts should also be made to show a right directionto those ''who have lost their direction'', he said.

''We should make efforts to see those who are releasedfrom jail lead a respectful life,'' he said.

Meanwhile, the CM also inaugurated five new cyberpolice stations located in the south, central, east, west andnorth zones of Mumbai Police, another official statement said.

He likened criminal activities to the novelcoronavirus and said the police of Mumbai and Maharashtra have''got a vaccine'' to teach a lesson to those who engage in it.

''We are proud of it. Cyber crime is not visible toeyes. Our battle against such an invisible enemy has startedmore ably now (with the inauguration of cyber policestations),'' the statement said quoting Uddhav Thackeray.

Without mentioning any specific incident, the CM alsoasked police not to become ''restless'' if anyone defames them.

''Because you have exposed them, not only I as thechief minister, but the entire Maharashtra is proud of you.

Hence, the government is standing behind you with all itsstrength,'' he said.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and Ministerof State for Home Satej Patil were present on the occasion viavideo-conferencing,the statementsaid.

State Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray, Mumbai'sGuardian Minister Aslam Shaikh and other leaders also attendedthe programme.

Deshmukh last week said prisons in Thane, Nashik andRatnagiri will also be part of the jail tourism initiative.

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