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Jalandhar, January 26:

Calling Doaba the heartland of martyrs, the Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday said that this  region was the epicentre of the Ghadar and Babbar movements which spearheaded the freedom struggle against the British imperialism.

In his address after unfurling the National tricolour on the occasion of the 73rd Republic Day, here at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium,the Chief Minister greeted the people of the State,while recalling the countless sacrifices made during Independence movement by several iconic revolutionaries viz. Baba Maharaj Singh, Baba Ram Singh, Shaheed- e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Lala Lajpat Rai, Shaheed Udham Singh, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, Madan Lal Dhingra, Diwan Singh Kalepani and many others. "These freedom fighters envisioned an India free from the maladies of illiteracy, unemployment, social, economic and legal inequality. Thus, I bow my head in reverence to these great stalwarts imbued with patriotism from the sacred land of Jalandhar", said Channi adding Punjabi people made the maximum sacrifices in the fight for throwing off the foreign yoke.

Likewise, the Chief Minister also pointed out the yeoman's service rendered by the  Punjabis especially the resilient farmers for the overall development of the country in the aftermath of Independence which is evident from the State contributing more than 60 percent towards national food bowl to make our country self reliant in food production.

Recalling the exceptional contribution made by Baba Saheb Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar in drafting the Constitution of the nation, the Chief Minister said that it was an humongous task to frame the constitution for a country as diverse as ours but Baba Saheb made strenuous efforts and accomplished the gigantic work with aplomb. It took 2 years, 11 months and 18 days to draft the constitution which was handed over to the President of the Constituent Assembly Dr. Rajendra Prasad on November 26, 1949 thus paving the way for country becoming a Republic on January 26, 1950.

Exhorting the people to leave no stone unturned in ensuring unhindered developmental journey of the country, the Chief Minister assured that the communal harmony and peace in the State would be maintained at all costs. 

Earlier, the Chief Minister inspected the parade and took Salute from the March Past, led by the IPS Jasroop Kaur Baath, DSP Satbir Singh, comprising the contingents from the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Commissionerate Police (Men and Women), PRTC Jahan Khelan (3 Contingents), and Home Guard Wing of the Commissionerate Police.

The Chief Minister also honoured the 135 people from different walks of life rendering selfless services to the society with the Appreciation Certificates besides honoring the members of march past contingents with the momentos.

Among others present on the occasion included MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh, Ex-Minister Mohinder Singh Kaypee, MLAs Sushil Kumar Rinku, Rajinder Beri and Avtar Singh Bawa Henry, Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori, Commissioner of Police Naunihal Singh, and Commissioner Municipal Corporation Karnesh Sharma.