A record 700-km-long human chain was formed in Rajasthan’s four border districts – Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Sriganganagar – on Tuesday as a tribute to the martyrs on the eve of the Independence Day.
About 5 lakh people participated in the initiative by forming the chain along the roads parallel to the India-Pakistan border.
Organised by govt.
The event was organised by the State government as part of its ‘Shahadat Ko Salam’ (A salute to martyrdom) programme to pay homage to the soldiers who laid down their lives for the country. Citizens carrying the National Tricolour joined hands to form the chain and raised slogans hailing the martyrs. They also released balloons.
Youths, scouts and guides, students, government employees, Army personnel and the public at large formed the chain, which was inspected by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje from a helicopter.
According to the official sources, Ms. Raje visited the Army’s War Museum in Jaisalmer and showered rose petals on the participants from her chopper.
As the event ended with the rendition of the National Anthem in the afternoon, a separate programme to pay tributes to the martyrs was organised at Amar Jawan Jyoti in Jaipur.
Senior civil and Army officers placed wreaths at the memorial, while the students and the Rajasthan Police Academy’s central band presented patriotic songs.
