Chandigarh: Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore issues a message to all the citizens on Republic Day
He writes-
Fellow citizens,
On the auspicious occasion of our 69th Republic Day, I extend my heartiest greetings and felicitations to all the Indians, living in Punjab and abroad. I also send my greetings to the brave personnel of our armed forces who are guarding and defending the borders of our country and thereby protecting the unity and territorial integrity of the Nation.
On this solemn occasion my thoughts go back to millions of unsung heroes of the freedom struggle, who lived and died valiantly, for the freedom of our nation and also to the countless men and women who faced immense sufferings in the struggle for Independence of our country.
The word ‘Republic’ is no ordinary word. It is a commitment to the effect that, in our State, supreme power is exercised by the people. This historic occasion is a day of rejoicing, as today we enjoy the status of being the world’s largest democracy and one of the major players in the world.
A special emphasis has been laid, at national and state levels, in recent years on rapid and more inclusive growth, with the focus on bringing about social equality through the reduction of poverty and empowering our people by adopting multi-pronged strategies.
The unprecedented contribution of Punjab to the cause of Freedom of our country is unmatched anywhere in the history of the world. The great martyrs Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai, Sahaheed Udham Singh, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Dewan Singh Kalepani and many more who shed every drop of their blood and had languished in jails, have left a rich legacy for all of us which demands unbounded love and respect of our motherland besides firm commitment to preserve India’s glory and independence.
While today is an occasion for celebration and gaiety yet it is also a day of calm introspection about our successes and our failures in realising the goals set in the Constitution and the dreams of the stalwarts of India’s freedom struggle.
On this occasion, I would also like to draw your attention to the technological advancement in the society and the way it has affected our day to day life. The emphasis of our Hon’ble Prime Minister, in getting the digital modes of payments adopted for all our transactions has been a great success. It is imperative for all of us to adopt and adapt to the new digital system of e-banking, which would have a long term positive impact on the growth of our Country.
We are grateful to our Kissans, mazdoors, industrialists and traders for their unstinted support in taking the state to the path of progress and prosperity. Punjab, being predominately an agricultural State, has helped the Nation by contributing maximum food grains to the Central Pool
In the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, we have a dynamic, dedicated and determined leader, who reflects the aspirations and hopes of over a billion people. Hon’ble Prime Minister’s pioneering development initiatives have ushered in a new era of the development of India.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan and Jan Mudra Yojana marked a paradigm shift in ensuring financial inclusion to each and every citizen of the Nation. ‘Make in India’, ‘Start up India’, ‘Digital India’ are innovative programmes towards employment oriented growth story of India.
Let us renew our pledge, on this historic day, to the ideals of secularism, nationalism, patriotism and to work with dedication to make Punjab and the country strong and vibrant.
