JALANDHAR: Calling Doaba the heartland of martyrs, Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday said that this region was the epicentre of the Ghadar and Babbar Akali movements which spearheaded the freedom struggle against British imperialism.
In his address after unfurling the Tricolour on the occasion of the 73rd Republic Day 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.
"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.
He 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 was evident from the state contributing more than 60 percent towards national food bowl to make the country self-reliant in food production. He also paid tributes to Dr B R Ambedkar
Earlier he inspected the parade and took salute from the March Pas. He also honoured the 135 people from different walks of life rendering selfless services to the society with the ‘appreciation certificates’.
