Tribune News Service,Mohali, January 6

The Mohali Senior Citizens Association on Wednesday paid tributes to bravehearts, who laid down their lives for the country while fighting terrorists from across the border during an attack at the Pathankot airbase recently. All members observed two-minute silence at their monthly get together here.The senior citizens recited patriotic songs in praise of the supreme sacrifices made by the martyrs, who upheld high traditions of the security forces.Ajit Singh, press secretary of the association, said that each and every citizen of the country was proud of the sacrifice made by the brave soldiers and their families.Association chairman Dr AS Khaira, president JS Thukral, and secretary (administration) Brigadier JJ Singh Jagdev (retd) were also present on the occasion.

Tributes paid to martyr

Jalandhar, January 6

Tributes were paid to Lance Naik, Paramjeet Singh, Sena Medal, on his 14th death anniversary.A function was held in his memory at a war memorial in his native village Surakhpur recently. Paramjeet Singh had laid down his life during operation ‘Parakram’ in Rajasthan on the Indo-Pak border on January 1, 2002 and his corpse was brought to the village on January 3, 2015.Besides, Army officials, various officials of the district administration paid homage.

Residents take out candle march, pay tributes to martyrs

Kuldip Bhatia,Ludhiana, January 6

Several political, social and cultural groups held candle march to pay tributes to martyrs of terrorist attack on the Pathankot airbase and to condemn the attack on the unity and integrity of the country.Activists of Team Insaaf took out candle march in Atam Nagar, Ludhiana South, Ludhiana Central and Ludhiana East Assembly segments.Baldev Singh, district president, who led the march in Atam Nagar and Ludhiana South segment, said his party bowed to the soldiery who fought against the terrorists valiantly and laid down their lives in the process of saving valuable defence assets of the country.Councillor Gurpreet Singh Khurana of Team Insaaf led the candle march in Ludhiana Central Assembly segment from Field Ganj to Jagraon Bridge. Party workers paid tributes to martyrs of Pathankot and urged the Union government to give a befitting reply to Pakistan for its continued support to acts of terrorism from across the border.Daljit Singh Grewal, councillor, led the Team Insaaf candle march in Ludhiana East segment from Basti Jodhewal Chowk, Rahon Road. Carrying banners and raising slogans against terrorism, party workers asked people to remain united in the face of such provocative acts.Rotary Club, Ludhiana Greater, also organised a candle march to pay tributes to the martyrs of Pathankot terrorist attack.Led by project director Amanpreet Singh Arora, the club members, along with members of Sarabha Nagar Market Association, went round Sarabha Nagar Main Market. Later, two-minute silence was observed to pray for the eternal peace of martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the fight against terrorism.

Forum pays tribute to Pathankot martyrs

Ludhiana: A meeting of the People’s Awareness Forum was held at Lodhi Club on Tuesday, which the 22 members attended, along with president Prof Prithipal Singh Kapur. Observing a two-minute silence for the departed souls, the members paid rich tributes to the seven martyrs who sacrificed their lives at the Pathankot Air Base. The forum members also wished a speedy recovery for the 17 injured security personnel, and appealed to the Indian government to give the highest respect and best care to these bravehearts.
Vice-president KS Chawla, general secretary IS Khurana, and principal Gurcharan Singh (retd) made a fervent appeal to intellectuals to play an active role in guiding the political system for the betterment of society. “Fear of repression is the most dreaded enemy of democracy, and should not be used as a tool by state power,” observed SS Aulakh and Col RS Sohi.
The bankruptcy of the Punjab government in finances, as well in governance, came in for sharp criticism. “Getting loans by mortgaging public properties is a regressive step of revenue generation, and cannot be substituted for development,” said RS Brar, adding that the recent decision of clubbing electricity bills with water and sewerage charges reflects the state government’s incompetence. The Sangrur police torture case and the barbaric incidents of torture at Abohar are glaring examples of law and order failure, and the government’s violation of the human rights of citizens. “The time has come to break the nexus among politicians, bureaucracy, and the police to ensure good governance,” emphasized the forum members.

Engraving memories of martyrs

Ludhiana: Taking forward their pledge to start a corpus fund to help family members of seven soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the terror attack at Pathankot Air Force base, industrialists have decided to erect statues and hoarding featuring martyrs at prominent chowks in the city.

Manjeet Matharoo, general secretary of Ludhiana Association of Machine Tool Industries, took the pledge to erect a statute of one of the martyrs on Cheema Chowk which his association is beautifying. Further Matharoo will also ensure that statutes of martyrs or inspirational hoardings carrying the images of the martyrs come up at various chowks and landmarks of the city which the various industry associations are beautifying.

In the first meeting on Tuesday, they collected Rs 2.01 lakh, contributed by Rahul Ahuja, convener of CII Punjab, Harish Dua, Ajit Lakra.

Contributing for the purpose, Jagbeer Sokhi, an industrialist and councillor, showed the way for others by donating his month’s salary and also pledging financial support from his association. He has also promised that he would try and convince all the 75 councilors to give away 15-day salary for this fund and bring a motion in the MC House for this purpose.

The members decided that by next week they will collect as much funds as possible from their side and a major portion will be given for the welfare of the families of seven security personnel.

Meanwhile, Brig S S Gill (retd) who was the special guest during the meeting enlightened the group members on how tough the lives of armed forces and their families are. He also raised the issue of insensitive approach of the politicians and bureaucrats towards the family members of the martyrs.

Gill also pressed group members for the adopting more youth centric approach so that the future of India can be motivated to join the armed forces and said, “It’s only possible when the attitude of the society changes towards the martyrs & the armed forces, at the moment martyrs only become part of statistics or history books which instead should be the role model of the youth.”

He also added, “Approach of the society should change towards the armed forces personnel and they (citizens) can help boost the morale of our forces by giving them respect and dignity they deserve. Its high time we realize that soldiers stand in line of fire for the nation and for the citizens.”

During the meeting, the members vented their anger at government for not being able to prevent this attack which led to the loss of precious lives. They also agreed on one point that government should impose a cess or a tax which should be used for the welfare of the families of the armed forces and ex-servicemen. Harish Dua & Rahul Ahuja said “If we can pay swach bharat cess & other such sub taxes, we will be more than happy to pay a cess which would aim at helping the families of the martyrs”

Door-to-door fund raising campaign

Jaswinder Thukral, president of Janta Nagar Small Scale Manufacturers Association, has decided that his association will collect funds from its members and will start a door-to-door collection campaign from Guru Nanak Engineering College (GNE) till Gill road to raise funds and spread awareness on armed forces.

Schools & colleges may contribute
Apparel Manufacturers Association led by president Sandeep Salwan, vice-president Manish Kaura and general secretary Atul Saggar will run a campaign to convince schools and colleges to include the training of NCC or other activities in their schools so that students learn about the armed forces and get motivation. They will also try to seek financial assistance from schools for funding for their initiative.

 

Pledge to bring about a change

 

Kulwant Singh, president of Machine Tools Manufacturing Association; Bhushan Abbi, president of textile & home furnishing cluster; Vipan Vinayak, president of knit and fab hosiery association; Upkar Singh Ahuja, general secretary of CICU; and Balbir Singh Bhamba have taken the initiative of running a massive social media and door-to-door campaign for attaching more and more industrialists and people from all walks of the life with their group which will help spreading awareness about their initiative.