I-Day: Full dress rehearsal held at Mohali college

Hundreds of students on Wednesday showcased vibrant cultural performances during the full dress rehearsal for the 79th Independence Day celebrations at Shaheed Major (Shaurya Chakra) Harminder Pal Singh Government College Ground, Phase 6.

Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal and SSP Harmandeep Singh Hans reviewed the arrangements and inspected the parade and march past.

The parade, led by Parade Commander DSP Jatinder Singh Chauhan, featured contingents of Punjab Police (male and female wings), NCC cadets and school bands.

The march past contingents included NCC cadets from Government College, Phase 6, Mohali, Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Kurali, Laxmi Tara Rathore Public School, Sialba Majri, and Mata Sahib Kaur Public School, Swara.

School bands of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sohana, and the School of Eminence, Phase 3B1, added a ceremonial touch.

The cultural programme saw participation by students from Shivalik Public School, Phase 6, GD Goenka Public School, Paragon School and The Millenium School, all in Mohali, Satluj World Public School, Sundran, and St Stephen’s School, Togan, New Chandigarh.

Tableaux on various themes, including Yudh Nasheyan Virudh, preventive measures for stubble burning, Verka dairy products, Easy Registry, CM Di Yogshala, Swachhata campaign, free legal aid and cyber safety, were also showcased.

Children from the School of Eminence, Phase 3B1 (Government Primary School), recited the national anthem to conclude the full dress rehearsal.

Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian will be the chief guest at the event on August 15 and will hoist the Tricolour.

Ex-servicemen not to attend state functions

The All India Defence Brotherhood and the Ex-servicemen Greviances Cell have announced not to participate in the Punjab Government’s functions related to Independence Day celebrations in the state.

They have cited ill-treatment of the serving soldiers and ex-servicemen by the Punjab Police, particularly the brutality against Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son, and a recent assault case in Malerkotla where a serving Naik, Abdul Sattar, was denied medical aid by SHO.

Cell president Lt Col SS Sohi said the veterans would, however, attend Punjab Governor’s At Home’ ceremony as he was a “neutral constitutional authority”.