New Delhi, Sep 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that the Chandigarh airport will be renamed after Bhagat Singh as a tribute to the great freedom fighter, triggering a race among several leaders to claim credit for it.
In his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio broadcast, Modi said that September 28 is an important day of ‘Amrit Mahotsav’ as it is the birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh.
“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 waiting for a long time,” Modi said.
He congratulated the people of Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana and the rest of the country for this decision.
“Let us take inspiration from our freedom fighters, follow 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,” the prime minister said.
Just a few days ago, the country made a similar effort by setting up the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on Kartavya Path and now the renaming of the Chandigarh airport after Bhagat Singh is another step in that direction, he noted.
“I wish that the way in which we are celebrating special occasions related to freedom fighters during Amrit Mahotsav, every youth must try something new on September 28 in the same way,” he said.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and several other leaders welcomed the prime minister’s announcement. However, the announcement also triggered a race to claim credit for the decision. This is the result of the strenuous efforts of the state government, an official statement quoting Mann said. (PTI)
