BJP leader Chawla celebrates Raksha Bandhan with BSF jawans

Former Punjab health minister and senior BJP leader Laxmi Kanta Chawla, who has a long-standing tradition of tying rakhis to BSF jawans at the Attari-Wagah border on the day of Raksha Bandhan, continued with her festive ritual. Accompanied by schools girls, women volunteers and several others, she tied rakhis to BSF jawans, including women jawans.

She said soldiers are not able to go to their homes or to their sisters’ house even on this holy day for the security of the country. To ensure that their wrists do not remain empty even on this festival, every year she reaches the border with her sister Mala Chawla and her supporters.

“For me, it is not just a festive exercise, it holds meaning as I am expressing my gratitude to the jawans, to our men and women in olive green for protecting us and the country. They stood strong guarding the borders during recent Operation Sindoor and have always done so,” she said.

Along with Laxmi Kanta Chawla, every year children from many schools also reach the border on this day and tie rakhis to soldiers. They also sang patriotic songs on the border. “I have been coming here to tie rakhis since 1968 and will continue to do so till my last breath,” she said.

Apart from her, many other social and political organisations too celebrated the festival in the city.