Lucknow, Aug. 16 -- The Samajwadi Party organised a special programme at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow on Sunday to mark the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Veerangana Avantibai Lodhi, which was attended by a large number of people from the Lodhi community.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, speaking at the event, announced that if his party forms the government in Uttar Pradesh, it will declare August 16 a public holiday in honour of Avantibai Lodhi and ensure the "rights and respect" of the Lodhi community.

Yadav said, "I announce that when the Samajwadi Party government is formed, we will declare a holiday on August 16 in the name of Veerangana Avantibai Lodhi."

He said Avantibai Lodhi played an important role in India's freedom s...