Thousands take part in ‘Hind Di Chadar’ run in Karnal

Thousands of enthusiastic participants took part in the ‘Hind Di Chadar’ run held in Karnal to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur on Sunday. The run was flagged off by Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar at NDRI Chowk in Karnal.

Officials involved in organising the event said that over 60,000 people registered for the run, reflecting the immense public enthusiasm.

“Guru Tegh Bahadur’s supreme sacrifice inspires us to dedicate our lives to the service of society, religion and the nation,” said Khattar while addressing the gathering before flagging off the run.

He said that on the occasion of Guru Sahib’s 350th martyrdom day, similar events and processions were being organised across the country. The marathon made history as thousands of participants began the 21 km run at 5.30 am, followed by the 10 km run at 6.30 am, and later, a large number of youths took part in the 5 km category.

“This is not just a race but a heartfelt expression of enthusiasm, spirit and devotion towards the great martyrs who sacrificed their lives for our freedom,” Khattar said.

The minister recalled Guru Tegh Bahadur’s supreme sacrifice in 1675, when Kashmiri Pandits led by Pandit Kripa Ram approached him seeking protection against forced religious conversions

He also remembered the young man from Badkhalsa village in Sonepat district, who sacrificed his own life while protecting the Guru’s severed head as it was secretly transported from Delhi to Anandpur Sahib after the execution at Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib, Chandni Chowk, Delhi.

Khattar showered flower petals on participants. Earlier, the song ‘Hind Ki Chadar – Tegh Bahadur’ was launched in his presence. The event saw enthusiastic participation, with many youths showcasing traditional Gatka performances. Meanwhile, responding to a question about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on “vote theft”, Khattar said, “Transparency in Haryana’s system was at its highest level ever, making manipulation of voter lists impossible.”

Manohar Lal Khattar reviews development works

Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar chaired a meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) at the Mini Secretariat on Sunday. He reviewed the progress of 22 major schemes across 11 departments.