On I-Day eve, 650-km human chain formed along border
Nearly five lakh people joined hands to form a 650 km-long human chain along the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan to honour martyrs and boost the morale of soldiers on the eve of Independence Day.
The event, ‘Shahdat ko Salam’, was organised to instil a sense of patriotism. Participants holding the tricolour and balloons formed the chain passing through four frontier districts of Rajasthan — Sriganganagar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, and Barmer.
Chief minister Vasundhara Raje too took part in the event and joined the participants at the War Museum in Jaisalmer. She paid tribute to martyrs. Raje also honoured war widows, dependents of martyrs, disabled armymen and Shaurya Chakra and Sena Medal recipients.
Raje reached Uttarlai airport in Barmer at 10.50 am by the official aircraft. She was welcomed by the army and air force officials. Later around 11 am, she boarded an army helicopter and inspected the human chain.
Jaisalmer district collector Om Prakash Kasera said that
JAIPUR:
Raje planted a sapling at the War Museum and paid tributes to the martyred soldiers.
People, including women, schoolchildren, BSF and Army jawans and administrative officials, participated in large numbers to form the human chain.
Kasera said that the chief minister honoured 21 people including soldiers and their family members.
Barmer district collector Shivprasad Madan Nakate said the schoolchildren waved a 200 meters-long and 1.5 meter-wide tricolour during the event.
On the Independence Day eve, the chief minister congratulated people of the state, saying that India is shining at the global platform because of “blood and sweat of martyred soldiers”, freedom fighters and their devotion towards the country.
She said that it would be a real tribute to the martyrs if we all contribute to the progress of our country by developing an atmosphere of social harmony and brotherhood. The government is committed to protecting the rights of every person, she said.