The government has formed a 126-member committee, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to coordinate the upcoming 200th birth anniversary celebrations of social reformer Jyotirao Govindrao Phule.
The panel includes former Presidents Pratibha Patil and Ram Nath Kovind, former PM HD Devegowda, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, among others.
However, Lok Sabha's Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge are not part of the panel.
The mandate of the panel is to approve policies and plans, supervise and guide the commemoration of Phule's 200th birth anniversary, including preparatory activities.
The panel will comprise several chief ministers, including Omar Abdullah, Siddaramaiah, and Rekha Gupta, as its members.
The panel also includes 34 Union ministers, MPs, and spiritual leaders such as Jaggi Vasudev, Mata Amritanandamayi, and Baba Ramdev.
