CHANDIGARH, Aug. 15: — Independence Day was celebrated across Punjab, Haryana, and their shared capital Chandigarh on Friday with flag-hoisting ceremonies, cultural programs, and tributes to freedom fighters, held under tight security.
Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria hoisted the Tricolour in Chandigarh, while Haryana Governor Ashim Kumar Ghosh led the celebrations in Ambala. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann unfurled the national flag at the state-level event in Faridkot, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini did so in Rohtak.
Freedom fighters, including Bhagat Singh, Udham Singh, Sukhdev, and Lala Lajpat Rai, were remembered for their sacrifices. Students from various institutions presented cultural performances and physical drills showcasing the region’s heritage.
In Faridkot, Mann inspected a parade and took the salute from marching contingents, joined by Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha and Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav. In his address, he announced that the Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojna will launch on October 2, providing Rs 10 lakh in health insurance cover to every family in Punjab. “All government hospitals and 552 private hospitals have been empanelled, and the state government will bear the cost,” he said.
Mann said 881 aam aadmi clinics have already been opened, serving about 70,000 patients daily, with plans to expand the network to 1,000 clinics soon. On education, he said the government is opening Schools of Eminence, and Punjab now ranks first in the Government of India’s National Achievement Survey, a jump from 29th in 2017.
Addressing drug abuse, Mann said the campaign Yudh Nashian Virudh (War Against Drugs) is receiving strong public support. Village defence committees have been formed to block drug supplies, and anti-drone systems have been deployed along the Pakistan border to intercept smuggling of narcotics and weapons.
He also noted that his government has provided 55,000 merit-based government jobs in the past three years and improved irrigation efficiency by increasing canal water usage from 21 percent to 63 percent, ensuring water reaches the tail ends of villages for the first time.
In Rohtak, Haryana CM Saini also paid tribute to freedom fighters and extended Independence Day greetings. Officials said elaborate security arrangements were in place across Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh to ensure peaceful celebrations.
