Ludhiana: Freedom fighters' families walk out from I-day event over ‘humiliation'
Chanting slogans against the government and the district administration, the aggrieved families accused the authorities of dishonouring their sacrifices by failing to provide even the most basic arrangements. 'There were not enough chairs, the tent could not shield people from the scorching sun, and those sitting since morning were not even given water,' said Chetandeep Singh, district president of the Freedom Fighters' Dependents Association.
Sensing the situation, deputy commissioner (DC) Himanshu Jain and commissioner of police Swapan Sharma reached out the protestors with folded hands, but the kin of freedom fighters and martyrs did not buy their assurance and continued their protests.
The protest came just a day after DC Jain had met the families of freedom fighters and assured them that all their issues would be resolved and proper arrangements would be made for the Independence Day programme. On the ground, however, families alleged that even mementos and gifts fell short despite the administration having the complete list of invitees.
Cabinet minister Aman Arora, who was the chief guest at the event, faced the ire of the families. Despite repeatedly folding his hands and apologising, the angry kin walked out, tossing aside the honours. 'The government promised respect but delivered humiliation,' said Mandeep Singh, press secretary of the association, adding that not a single demand of the families had been fulfilled in the last three and a half years.
Mandeep Singh also alleged the family members of freedom fighters were stopped at the entrance by the police personnel on duty and kept them waiting for at least 15 minutes before letting them enter. He also added that they felt disrespected at the function to mark the independence for which their family members had even sacrificed their lives.
Acknowledging the fiasco, minister Aman Arora admitted administrative lapses and assured action against those responsible. 'We failed to ensure smooth arrangements. I apologise with folded hands, and strict action will be taken,' he said.
'Tarang' helpline launched to combat drug-addiction
On the occasion of 79th Independence-Day, cabinet minister Aman Arora on Friday inaugurated 'Tarang Helpline' (9779175050) a dedicated initiative of the Ludhiana administration to provide psychological support, counselling, and livelihood assistance for drug-affected individuals. Arora on Friday hoisted the national flag at the PAU grounds.
Arora stated that the helpline will serve as a lifeline for individuals and families affected by drug addiction, providing immediate access to counselling, treatment guidance, and livelihood opportunities. The Tarang Helpline will act as a single point of contact for individuals seeking help, their families, and informants reporting drug-related concerns. It will guide callers to the nearest outpatient opioid assisted treatment (OOAT) clinic, de-addiction centre, or rehabilitation centre based on their needs. Follow-up calls after seven days will ensure continuous monitoring of treatment progress, with daily reports submitted to a nodal officer from the health department for seamless coordination. The initiative also includes one-on-one and group counselling sessions, with dedicated group counselling every Saturday in Red Cross Bhawan, overseen by health department officials and supported by security and PCR teams to ensure a safe environment.
Further to support long-term rehabilitation, the helpline will coordinate with the District Bureau of Employment and Enterprises (DBEE) and Punjab Skill Development Mission (PSDM) to provide skill training, job opportunities, and access to self-employment schemes tailored to individuals' interests and skills. He added that dedicated officers from the health and police departments will ensure streamlined action on medical and drug-related complaints, with Dream Ahead submitting daily reports to nodal officers and weekly feedback to his office. Strict confidentiality of callers' identities will be maintained to encourage open communication.
The Minister also lauded the initiative by the administration and expressed hope that it will support those in overcoming addiction and rebuilding their lives with dignity.
During the event, Arora outlined the transformative achievements of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over the past three years, emphasising its commitment to building a vibrant and prosperous Punjab.
After hoisting the tricolour, Arora inspected the parade and paid tribute to freedom fighters - including Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Madan Lal Dhingra, Lala Lajpat Rai, Udham Singh, Karnail Singh Issru, for their sacrifices in India's independence struggle.
The Minister noted that Punjab is the first state in India to deploy anti-drone technology along the international border to curb drug and arms smuggling, a significant step in the Yudh Nashian Virudh (War Against Drugs) campaign. He urged Punjabis to unite in the fight against the drug menace.
Other notable initiatives include the Sadak Surakhya Force, which has saved thousands of lives in road accidents, and the Sarkar Aapke Dwar programme.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
26 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Pakistani university lecturer arrested for planning foiled Balochistan attack, officials say
Security forces in southwestern Pakistan arrested a university lecturer accused of planning a foiled suicide attack that would have targeted last week's Independence Day celebrations in insurgency-hit Balochistan province, officials said Monday (August 18, 2025). The suspect, Usman Qazi, is claimed to have links with the outlawed Majeed Brigade, the suicide squad of the Balochistan Liberation Army, according to the province's Chief Minister, Sarfraz Bugti. During a press conference in the city of Quetta, Mr. Bugti showed video footage with Qazi admitting to planning the thwarted attack as well as aiding militants in recent years. It was unclear whether Qazi made those remarks under duress. Mr. Bugti did not clarify when the arrest was made, and only said the man was still being questioned. The arrest comes a week after the US State Department designated BLA and the Majeed Brigade a foreign terrorist organisation. The group is already banned at home. Mr. Bugti said it was the first time security forces acting on intelligence had captured a senior member of the Majeed Brigade. He said Qazi confessed to involvement in past attacks, including last year's railway station bombing in Quetta that killed 32 people. There was no immediate comment from the BLA about the arrest. Balochistan has long seen violence blamed on separatist groups, including the BLA. The province is rich in natural resources and home to projects tied to the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, where Chinese nationals and Pakistani security forces have also been targeted by insurgents. The separatists demand independence from Pakistan's central government in Islamabad. Though the government said it had quelled the insurgency, violence persists there.
Mint
26 minutes ago
- Mint
Modi meets key ministers, economists to discuss 100-day reform agenda
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday huddled with senior ministers, top bureaucrats and economists to draw up a 100-day roadmap for 'next-generation reforms' aimed at sustaining India's growth momentum and insulating the economy from fresh US tariffs on exports, three persons familiar with the development said on condition of not being named. The meeting was attended by home minister Amit Shah, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal, Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, secretaries of key departments, and select economists. 'Chaired a meeting to discuss the roadmap for next-generation reforms. We are committed to speedy reforms across all sectors, which will boost ease of living, ease of doing business and prosperity,' the Prime Minister said in a social media post. Individual ministries have been urged to come up with tailored measures towards the 100-day agenda to accelerate India's economic growth, one of the persons quoted above said. Another issue that was deliberated was the impact of tariffs that the US has imposed on Indian exports, said the second person. Notably, the 25% reciprocal tariffs on Indian exports that US President Donald Trump imposed came into effect on 7 August. This may double to 50% on 27 August after additional tariffs imposed for New Delhi's oil trade with Russia kick in. Given that such high tariffs could impact Indian exporters' competitiveness in their largest export market, policy makers are keen to step up domestic consumption demand and, thus, capacity utilisation in factories, which will ensure jobs are protected. Modi had highlighted the need for faster economic growth in his Independence Day speech on Friday. 'We want to grow fast,' Modi said in his speech while announcing that a task force will give recommendations in this regard. Current law, practices, procedures, etc, should be aligned to the 21st century and the global environment, and should aid India in becoming a developed country by 2047, Modi had said in his address. The theme of stimulating the economy through reforms was already in motion early this financial year as Sitharaman presented a reform-focused budget in February with big cuts in income tax, welfare targets for inclusive growth, and across-the-board reforms especially in regulatory framework, taxation and the financial sector. Policy makers believe cutting red tape and making it easier to do business can unleash the entrepreneurial spirit of people, which can help to achieve much more than what the government and state-run firms can do directly, the people cited above said. While agriculture and services are performing well, the government wants to increase the share of manufacturing in the economy, which can fetch more and better paid jobs to people. The Centre has also launched several schemes to address the skill gap among the youth that affect their employability. India's GDP is projected by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to grow at 6.5% this financial year. Above normal monsoons, the income tax relief announced in the budget, and a 100-basis points reduction in RBI's repo rate are also expected to support growth this year. On 14 August, Mint reported that the government has asked 37 ministries to submit a detailed report on the key compliance requirements that are creating roadblocks for manufacturers, exporters, investors and small enterprises, and hurting their ability to conduct their businesses smoothly. Subhash Narayan contributed to this story
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
PM Modi chairs top-level meet to discuss roadmap for next-gen reforms
Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Piyush Goyal and Lalan Singh attended the meeting Press Trust of India New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a high-level meeting, which included top Union ministers, secretaries and economists, to deliberate on the roadmap for the next generation reforms, one of the key announcements he had made in his Independence Day address. Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Piyush Goyal and Lalan Singh attended the meeting. Modi had on August 15 announced the formation of a task force for 'next-generation reforms' and revision of GST laws, as he devoted a major part of his 103-minute speech on making India self-reliant in a host of sectors ranging from semiconductors to fertilisers. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
