Chandigarh, March 23 - Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal said that in present times we do not need to die for the country, in fact we need to live for the country and take a pledge to cleanse the evils and anti-nationalism prevailing in the society.
The Chief Minister was addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone of a Community Centre to be built in the name of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh at Sector 7, Panchkula on the occasion of Shaheedi Diwas today. Earlier, Sh. Manohar Lal paid floral tributes to the statue of Shaheed Bhagat Singh at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chowk, Sector 15. Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sh. Gian Chand Gupta, Urban Local Bodies Minister, Sh. Kamal Gupta, Municipal Corporation Mayor, Sh. Kulbhushan Goyal and Deputy Commissioner, Sh. Mahavir Kaushik were also present on the occasion.
We need to step forward with the ideology of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas'- Chief Minister
Taking inspiration from the life of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sh. Manohar Lal appealed to the people that we should take care of the legacy of independence of our nation given to us by freedom fighters and martyrs as an opportunity and step forward to fight against the evils like the menace of drugs, crime against women and anti-national forces in the society. Sh. Manohar Lal said that we all should identify our social responsibility and follow the basic mantra given by the Prime Minister - 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas'. He said that the government can create an environment for it but it is the people who have to take it forward.
Acknowledging that Shaheed Bhagat Singh was an avid reader, the Chief Minister said that he had a habit of reading and continued to read even in Jail. Thus, we should keep enhancing knowledge in our lives. Sh. Manohar Lal said that we all have energy and knowledge is necessary to use that energy in the right direction.
Haryana stands first with regard to programmes organised under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav - Chief Minister
Referring to the steps taken by the present State Government in the memory of the martyrs, he said that on the occasion of 75 years of independence of the country, many small and big programmes are being organised in the country. Sh. Manohar Lal said that he is happy to inform that Haryana stands first in organizing these programmes and in the last one year about 1,200 such programmes have been organised across the state. He said that we are moving ahead with the vision of a clean, strong and happy society and in this direction the State Government has passed the budget for the year 2022-23 considering Antyodaya as the core.
A memorial for the first freedom struggle is being built in Ambala at a cost of Rs 300 crore - Chief Minister
The Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal said that Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi has decided to organize many programmes, including Veer Bal Diwas on December 26, Parakram Diwas on the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, 400 years of Prakash Utsav of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji. He informed that Haryana Government has decided to celebrate 400 years of Prakash Utsav of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji at Panipat on April 24. Similarly, a memorial for the first freedom struggle is being built in Ambala at a cost of Rs. 300 crore. Sh. Manohar Lal put a tilak on his forehead with the soil brought from the land of martyrs Hussainiwala and Jallianwala in Punjab and said that it is not soil it is a message of purity.
Shaheed Bhagat Singh will be remembered for centuries by the generations to come – Sh. Manohar Lal
Sh. Manohar Lal said that March 23 is not a date, it is a legend, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru are one ideology, one emotion. He said that India is the only country in the whole world where such tales of glory will be heard because the freedom fighters of our country had laid down their lives to liberate the nation. Among such bravehearts was Bhagat Singh who dedicated and sacrificed his life for the country and was hanged in his fight against the British rule. He said that today 90 years have passed since the martyrdom of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, but the coming generations will remember his glorious stories for years to come.
Community Centres to be built in the villages will also be named after one of the martyrs of that village - Speaker of the Assembly
Addressing on the occasion, Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha, Sh. Gian Chand Gupta said that a Community Centre to be built in the name of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh in Sector 7 would be constructed at a cost of Rs. 5 crore. He said that it has been decided to name all 18 Community Centres in Panchkula after martyrs. Thus, Community Centre Sector 17 will be named after Shaheed Lala Lajpat Rai and Community Centre in Sector 21 will be named after Shaheed Chandra Shekhar Azad. Along with this, it has also been decided that the Community Centres located in the villages of the district will be named after a martyr of the same village so that the coming generations can take inspiration from the lives of the martyrs. Sh. Gupta said that Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were hanged only because they fought for the freedom of the country. He said that lakhs of brave freedom fighters sacrificed their lives without a second thought for independence. Sh. Gupta said that today he also salutes those brave soldiers who are guarding the country's borders so that we can all sleep peacefully.
Taking inspiration from the sacrifices of the heroes, we have to play our part in nation-building – Dr. Kamal Gupta
Urban Local Bodies Minister, Dr. Kamal Gupta said that the country and society which does not remember the glorious past and its ancestors, that society cannot progress. He said that today's youth need to be acquainted with the glorious stories of heroes like Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru, Rani Laxmi Bai, Maharana Pratap so that they can contribute in nation-building by taking inspiration from the sacrifices of such heroes.
On this occasion Municipal Commissioner, Sh. Dharamvir Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Sh. Mohit Handa, SDM, Smt. Richa Rathi, Estate Officer of Haryana Urban Development Authority and many other dignitaries were present.