Sond hoists Tricolour, pays homage to martyrs

Punjab’s Minister for Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Labour, Hospitality and Rural Development and Panchayats Tarunpreet Singh Sond hoisted the National Flag at the district-level function held at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium here today on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day.

The Independence Day parade was led by parade commander Sarwanjeet Singh. The event was attended by many dignitaries. Later, tricycles, wheelchairs and sewing machines were distributed among freedom fighters and the needy.

After the flag hoisting, the Cabinet minister took the guard of honour. The minister congratulated Indians living across the globe on Independence Day and paid homage to the sacrifices made by freedom fighters. He said it was due to the struggles and sacrifices made by the freedom fighters that “we are breathing in a free country today, and we are proud that Punjabis made the highest sacrifices in the nation’s freedom struggle”.

He added that the Punjab Government was committed to building a ‘vibrant, joyful and prosperous Punjab’. He highlighted various initiatives, including the expansion of Aam Aadmi Clinics, introduction of new ambulances, free electricity, easy registration of property, war against drugs, anti-corruption drive and construction of playgrounds in rural areas.

On education, Sond said Punjab had achieved the first rank in education after many years. Terming the state’s anti-drug campaign highly successful, the minister said the government had not only driven drug smugglers out of Punjab, but also made over 25,000 arrests and demolished smugglers’ houses.

Kapurthala: Amit Kumar Panchal, DC, hoisted the National Flag during a district-level Independence Day celebration at the Guru Nanak Stadium here. He extended greetings to the residents of Kapurthala and paid tributes to freedom fighters.

The event began with Panchal and SSP Gaurav Toora inspecting the I-Day parade led by DSP Deepakran Singh. The march-past featured contingents from Punjab Police, Home Guards and NCC units from local schools and colleges. Freedom fighters, Veer Naris and their dependents were honored during the ceremony.

Hoshiarpur: Defence Services Welfare, Freedom Fighters and Horticulture Minister Mohinder Bhagat hoisted the National Flag at a district-level function held at the local Police Line ground here. MLAs Bram Shankar Jimpa and Dr Ishank Kumar were also present at the function. The Cabinet Minister inspected the parade along with Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain, SSP Sandeep Kumar Malik and parade commander DSP Manpreet Kaur Sheemar and took salute. On the occasion, a PT show and cultural programme were presented by schoolchildren, along with giddha and bhangra.

The Cabinet Minister felicitated the families of freedom fighters and martyred soldiers, who had come specially to attend the function. He also provided sewing machines, motor tricycles, tricycles and wheelchairs to the needy, while also giving scholarships to meritorious students. Besides, personalities who have excelled in various fields and officers and employees who have done excellent work were also felicitated. Tableaux depicting development by various departments were the centre of attraction.

Phagwara: Independence Day functions were organised with customary grandeur in Phagwara, Nakodar, Shahkot and Nurmahal. Additional Deputy Commissioner Akshita Gupta unfurled the Tricolour at an auditorium here. Cultural programmes were presented by the different groups of students. Many social activists were honoured in different Independence Day functions for their contributions in different fields.

Nakodar: Lal Vishwash Bains unfurled the National Flag at Nakodar and SDM Shubhi Angra at Shahkot.

Rajya Sabha member and former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh marked Independence Day by distributing six electronic wheelchairs to differently-abled beneficiaries in the district. The initiative, funded through his MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) fund, was aimed at providing mobility support to those in need.

The distribution ceremony took place at the District Administrative Complex, where Singh announced that similar assistance would soon be extended to needy residents in nearby villages. In addition to the wheelchairs, he presented fruit baskets to the beneficiaries.