Jalandhar: Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi hoisted the national flag at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium in Jalandhar to celebrate the 73rd Republic Day Wednesday.
In his speech, Channi spoke of the many sacrifices made by the people of Punjab during India’s struggle for freedom. He also invoked B.R. Ambedkar, the father of the Indian Constitution.
“In the struggle for freedom, people of Punjab made the most sacrifices. I can’t name all of them in such little time, but to name a few… Shaheed Bhagat Singh ji, Shaheed Sukhdev ji, Lala Lajpat Rai ji, Shaheed Udham Singh ji, Kartar Singh ji, Madan Lal Dhingra ji, Diwan Singh Kale Pani… and hundreds more laid down their lives for the freedom of this nation,” he said.
“The dream of the freedom fighters was that India be free of poverty, illiteracy, discrimination and there’d be equality in the society. After Independence, Punjab also endured the wounds inflicted by Partition,” he added.
