In recognition with the gallantry services rendered by state based Armed Services personnel, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced to soon set up a dedicated helpline at Chandigarh Headquarters exclusively to redress the grievances of serving Defence persons and veterans on the top priority.Addressing an impressive gathering after dedicating the Rs 130 crore Punjab State War Heroes Memorial and Museum (PSWHMM) here today, the Chief Minister said that it was our onerous duty to mitigate the hardships faced by the Ex-servicemen and Defence personnel forthwith as gratitude towards their outstanding services to defend the security and sovereignty of the country. Emphasizing the need to extend basic courtesies to the Defence personnel and veterans, Mr. Badal asked the Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to accord due recognition and respect to them, whenever they visit their offices. He categorically said that the district Police and Civil administration should never be complacent on this account as the Defence personnel and ex-servicemen constitute one of the most revered sections of the society.
Eulogizing the valiant deeds of our Defence services since ages, the Chief Minister said that strong Army always needed strong and decisive leadership, which was evident from world history as Alexander the great and Maharaja Ranjit Singh established their vast kingdoms due to their unprecedented bravery and able stewardship. He said that our brave soldiers invoked the martial spirit from our great Sikh Gurus for which Punjab has earned the epitaph of being nation’s sword arm. Mr. Badal recalled that the gallantry deeds of great Punjabi soldiers like Naik Karam Singh, Major Somnath Sharma, Air Commodore Baba Mehar Singh, Joginder Singh, General Harbaksh Singh, Air Chief Marshall Arjan Singh, Lieutenant General JS Arora, Captain Bana Singh and several others who brought laurels and glory for the country through their rarest of rare heroic deeds.Complementing Mr. Modi for launching surgical strikes on terror pads in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, the Chief Minister said that this unique and bold initiative has rejuvenated the spirit of patriotism and nationalism amongst the countrymen. Mr. Badal said that the dictum of decisive leadership and strong Army had once again vindicated our country’s stand to conduct surgical attacks on terror pads in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir under the visionary and forthright leadership of the Prime Minister. He said that the unprecedented, courageous, heroic and decisive act of Mr. Modi hardly finds any parallel across the globe.
Underlining the need for perpetuating the legacy of supreme sacrifices made by the great soldiers and warriors of the state so as to encourage the youth to join the Armed forces, the Chief Minister said that this state-of-the art memorial would act as a beacon to inspire the youngsters for serving the nation thereby displaying the ethos of Punjabi's rare valour and patriotism. Mr. Badal categorically said that this magnificent memorial would be a befitting tribute to commemorate the remarkable contribution made by the Punjabi soldiers and officers to defend the sovereignty of the country surpassing the long period of more than 600 years right from the times of sixth Guru of Sikhs Sri Guru Hargobind Singh Ji till Kargil war. “The major attraction of this monument is the installation of world’s tallest 45 tallest sword in the memorial” he added.Listing the major initiatives taken for the welfare of ex-servicemen and their families, the Chief Minister said that the state government had recently decided to extend a cash grant worth Rs 50 lakh to the war widows or their legal heirs, of the valiant soldiers who had laid down their lives in the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars and 1962 Indo-China war. He said that the state government has also decided to enhance the one time grant for the recipient of Param Vir Chakra/ Ashok Chakra from Rs.30 lac to Rs.2 Crore, Mahavir Chakra from Rs.20 lac to Rs.1 crore and Vir Chakra from Rs.15 lac to Rs.50 lac. Likewise, he said that the amount of travelling allowance admissible to war widows has been enhanced from Rs.150 to Rs.500 per month. Mr. Badal also said that the amount of ex-gratia to all battle casualties in case of death has been increased from Rs.2 lac to Rs.5 lac.
Highlighting the bold initiatives taken by the state government to ensure maximum representation of youth in the Indian defence services, the Chief Minister said that a network of C-Pyte centers has been established across the state to ensure selection of Punjabi youth in Armed forces. Mr. Badal further said that to arrest the trend of decline in the recruitment of state’s youth in Armed forces as officers, our government has opened Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Academy and Mai Bhago Armed Forces institute at Mohali to impart training to boys and girls recruits respectively.n his address, the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal termed the inauguration of the war heroes memorial and museum constructed at a cost of Rs. 130 crore, as a historic day. He said that only those races survive in the annals of history which remember their culture and traditions.Congratulating the Indian Army on the surgical strike, he said that the army is fully prepared to tackle any aggression and misadventure by Pakistan. Outlining other armed forces centric steps taken by the SAD-BJP government, the Deputy Chief Minister said that Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute and Mai Bhago Academy for girls train and prepare numerous armed forces aspirants every year with great deal of success. Divulging more, he said that Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation has provided employment avenues to more than 12000 Ex-Servicemen.
Describing the Chief Minister as a great visionary, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that this memorial was a dream project of the Chief Minister who has given special attention to construction of memorials throughout the state in order to connect the younger generation with the great historical, social and cultural roots of Punjab. The Deputy Chief Minister also elaborated that a Jang-e-Azadi memorial is coming up in Kartarpur at a cost of Rs. 200 crore.The Deputy Chief Minister further said that some anti-Punjab forces are deliberately defaming Punjabi youth as drug addicts. He listed the example of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi who he said that branded 70 percent of Punjabi youth as drug addicts. Making the picture clear, S. Badal said that Punjab is only the transit route of drugs which actually originate from Afghanistan and Pakistan. He also disclosed that those defaming Punjab for their narrow political interests would do very well to know that in the army recruitments held recently in the state only a miniscule were found to be dope positive.Coming to the contribution of Punjab towards the nation, the Deputy Chief Minister said that Punjab is the food bowl of the nation which contributes 60 percent of rice to the nation’s granary. He also said that Punjab holds numero uno position in the entire country in being the only power surplus state with cheapest power to the industrial sector besides occupying top spot in road infrastructure, hosiery, cycle, tractors, machine tools, agricultural tools, sports goods, milk and mushrooms.Saluting the country’s army and Ex-Servicemen for their contribution towards the country, Mr. Badal said that Punjabis have always been in the forefront to defend the country and would continue to do so.
In his address Union Minister for state Mr. Vijay Sampla recalled the key role of Punjab as sword arm of the country since time immemorial. Lauding the Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi for his special consideration to strengthen the Armed forces, he said that NDA Government led by the Prime Minister has fulfilled their long pending demand of One Rank One Pension (OROP). He said that by successful surgical strikes Indian Army has once again proved its mettle across the globe. Mr. Sampla also lauded Chief Minister for perpetuating history through construction of several memorials.On the occasion the Chief Minister also felicitated 15 dignitaries including General JJ Singh, Air Chief Marshal SK Sareen, General Deepak Kapoor, Hony. Captain Bana Singh, World War second veteran Major Thomas Conway, Liason officer Sikh light infantry association UK Mr. Hugh Mackay, Mr. Richard Hill, Mr. Davinder Dhillon, Brigadier KS Chandpuri besides family members Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon, Captain Karam Singh, Subedar Joginder Singh, Captain Vikram Batra, Lance Naik Shingara Singh and Subedar Malkiat Singh with a shawl and a momento of sword.Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included Cabinet Ministers Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Mr. Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike and Mr. Anil Joshi, Lok Sabha MP Jathedar Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Rajya Sabha MP Mr. Shwet Malik, MLAs Mr. Manjit Singh Mianwind, Mr. Baljit Singh Jalaal Usma, Bibi Jagir Kaur and Mr. Des Raj Dhugga, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema, Police Commissioner Mr. Lok Nath Angra and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Varun Roozam.