Health Minister hoists national flag on I-Day

Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh hoisted the national flag on 79th Independence Day and took salute from the marching contingents at Guru Nanak Stadium here on Friday.

In his address, the minister urged people to celebrate the national festival with enthusiasm and rekindle the spirit of patriotism, brotherhood and harmony. Various teams of Punjab Police, women’s platoon of the state police, Home Guards and Children’s Police Band participated in the parade.

Seven platoons of NCC contingents, 214 cadets of NCC group also marched smartly in the parade. Students of different schools presented a gymnastics show and cultural programme comprising giddha, bhangra and folk dances followed by National Anthem.

In a separate release issued here on Saturday, Prof Sukhdev Singh, vice-chairman of INTACH, wished the countrymen on Independence Day. He said while we should never forget the sacrifice of the freedom fighters who by choice challenged the foreign rule and lost their lives, we should also remember the sufferings of those unwittingly caught in the struggle and consequences. He lamented the sufferings of Partition.

The freedom of the country came with unplanned partition to carve out two countries resulting in huge loss of lives, wealth and dignity of the common people; freedom came with communal hatred and insane rivalry. It turned people of both countries enemies, impacting the development and welfare of the masses, Dr Singh said.

The INTACH vice-chairman suggested that neighbouring countries which shared cultural bonds should focus on mutual development, benefitting the masses, instead of fighting wars. Since there is cultural closeness and regional continuity between the two, they should work on the principle of ‘culture for peace’, he said.

Dr Singh sought a memorial near the border for those who were unwittingly forced to dislocate from their homes to unspecified destinations while many of them murdered, raped, plundered, starved and converted en route in the name of independence of two nation-states. Tourists should be encouraged to pay homage to all those who suffered on the day of ‘independence’, he said.