India Soaks In Patriotic ‘Josh’; Twin Reason For Celebration

New Delhi: Today, September 28 is the birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh and also the day India conducted surgical strikes in Pakistan.

On the twin occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that along with the birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh on September 28, the countrymen have another reason to celebrate the day of the surgical strike. He said this in his monthly Mann Ki Baat Radio Address aired on the last Sunday of the month.

“My dear countrymen, all of you have another reason to celebrate September 28. Do you know what it is? I will say only two words and I know your enthusiasm will increase fourfold. These two words are—Surgical Strike,” Modi said.

“Hasn’t the Josh risen?” he asked.

The Indian Army had on September 28, 2016, conducted surgical strikes at four places inside Pakistan across Jammu and Kashmir in retaliation to the terror attack by the Pakistan-sponsored militants at an Army camp in Uri in Baramulla district of Kashmir. Militants had targeted the Army camp in Uri on September 18, 2016. The surgical strikes were conducted inside Pakistan right after 10 days.

A number of militants including their commanders, trainers and Pakistan army personnel were killed in the surgical strikes which were conducted for the first time since Pakistan-sponsored militancy erupted in Jammu and Kashmir.

On February 26, 2019, the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted airstrikes in Balakote deep inside Pakistan in response to the Pulwama terror attack on February 14. A training camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militant outfit was destroyed in the air raids in which nearly 200 militants were believed to have been killed.

Modi also announced the renaming of Chandigarh airport after Shaheed Bhagat Singh as a tribute to the great freedom fighter. He said that September 28 is an important day of ‘Amrit Mahotsav’ when the birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh will be celebrated.

“Just before the birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh, an important decision has been taken as a tribute to him. It has been decided that the Chandigarh airport will now be named after Shaheed Bhagat Singh. It had been in the waiting for a long time,” Modi said.

He congratulated the people of Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana, and the entire country for this decision. “Let us take inspiration from our freedom fighters, following their ideals and build the India of their dreams… this is our tribute to them. The memorials of martyrs, the names of places and institutions named after them inspire us with a sense of duty,” he said.

Just a few days ago, the country had made a similar effort by setting up the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on Kartavya Path and now the name of Chandigarh Airport after Shaheed Bhagat Singh is another step in that direction, he noted.