Governor Khofifah: Santri Day Momentum To Maintain Indonesian Unity

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa (central) on the sidelines released hundreds of thousands of participants on the healthy road for the 2023 National Santri Day in front of the Grahadi State Building in Surabaya, Sunday (21/10/2023). (ANTARA/HO-Biro Adpim East Java)

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa said that the 2023 National Santri Day which was held in the city of Surabaya should be used as a momentum for all people to maintain the unity and integrity of Indonesia.

"Not only pesantren, not only santri, all of them to be able to fight to protect the unity of the Republic of Indonesia," said Khofifah at the Grahadi State building as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, October 21.

Because, said Khofifah, the commemoration of Santri Day was based on a sense of respect for the struggle of the students who participated in defending Indonesia's sovereignty which was trying to be reclaimed by allies, on October 22, 1945, on that date KH Hasyim Asy'ari sparked a jihad resolution.

"Together we fight to defend the independence of the Republic of Indonesia," he said.

Therefore, he said, it is the duty of the general public and students to ensure that the country's sovereignty is maintained in this modern era, namely by strengthening the spirit of unity between communities regardless of differences.

Khofifah said that this had been proven, one of which was through the "Relax Road" activity which was one of the events of the "National Santri Day" series.

The event was attended not only by the people of Surabaya and East Java, but also from a number of other areas.

"This event was also attended outside East Java, so the attraction was actually to maintain the withdrawal of the Republic of Indonesia and this is part of building brotherhood so that it remains harmonious," he said.

Khofifah thanked the government and the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board for choosing the City of Surabaya as the location for the National Santri Day, starting from October 20-22, 2023.

"Thank you PBNU, the Ministry of Religion for placing the peak of this year's Santri Day in East Java, especially in Surabaya," he said.

As is known, the implementation of the "National Santri Day" peak agenda in 2023 is scheduled to be held at the Surabaya Heroes Monument, Sunday, October 22, 2023 and will be attended directly by President Joko Widodo.