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Tribune News Service
Kartarpur (Jalandhar), Aug 14
On the eve of the 73rd Independence Day, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh inaugurated the third phase of Jung-e-Azadi Memorial here today. The third phase is dedicated to the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the unsung heroes who were incarcerated in Andaman Cellular Jail during freedom struggle.
The Chief Minister also digitally launched a slew of other projects for Jalandhar district as part of Rs 450-crore development and welfare projects inaugurated across the state.
Addressing a public gathering after inaugurating the Rs 20-crore third phase of the memorial, the Chief Minister underlined the need to connect the youth with the glorious legacy of the national freedom struggle.
It was important, he said, to imbue the youth with a spirit of nationalism and patriotism. Recalling his visit to the Cellular Jail in Andaman, the Chief Minister said it had inspired him to build a memorial as a mark of honour to the national heroes. The CM said the first and the second phase of this memorial had been constructed at a cost of Rs 290 crore.
Referring to his government’s flagship “Connect with Your Roots” programme, he said the youth visiting the state would be taken around the Jung-e-Azadi Memorial, Partition Museum, Amritsar, and Virasat-e-Khalsa, Anandpur Sahib.
He also asked Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Charanjit Singh Channi to bring maximum school students to Jung-e-Azadi Memorial so that they could be educated and sensitised about the nation’s journey to independence.
In his welcome address, Dr Barjinder Singh Hamdard outlined the journey of the completion of the memorial, which he envisioned to be developed as “Tirath Asthan” (pilgrimage). He revealed that so far over 6.5 lakh people had visited the memorial since its inception, including nearly 91,000 students.