Warning of continued threat from Pakistan and China, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said that Punjab would always be at the forefront of fighting the enemy at the borders.
With tensions at the borders increasing, India had to be prepared to deal with any eventuality, said the CM in his Independence Day address.
“While Pakistan continues to resort to firing every day, China, on the other hand, talks about friendship but remains a danger to our nation,” said Captain Amarinder, recalling the recent barbaric attack on the Indian soldiers by the Chinese forces. India had always given Pakistan a befitting response, which was the only way to deal with them, he said, adding that China, too, needed to be handled with the same iron hand.
Recalling the contributions of the millions of Indians to the freedom struggle, the CM said Punjabis had always been at the forefront of every battle. The cellular jail in Kaala Paani (Andaman Islands) have the names of tens of hundreds of Punjabis etched in immortality, he said, adding that even though the I-Day celebrations this year were low-key due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this was the time to remember the sacrifices of all those who had made freedom possible for us. It was also the time to salute the defence forces guarding the nation’s borders from the enemy, he added.
Paying his tributes to Punjab’s freedom fighters, Captain Amarinder reiterated his government’s commitment to extend all benefits of freedom fighters to their next generations (grandchildren). At the same time, he also saluted the Health Workers and Paramedics who were continuously fighting the invisible Covid enemy, along with the NGOs and religious organisations that have worked tirelessly to provide free food and medicine during the period of lockdown. He also acknowledged the great work done by the farmers, who have produced the food that fed the nation during the lockdown period and government officials who are serving the people in these difficult times.