Ferozepur, March 23 Reaffirming his government's commitment to honoring the martyrs and building a "vibrant Punjab" rooted in their dreams and vision, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann invoked the legacy of the nation's greatest revolutionaries and questioned the "continued denial" of Bharat Ratna to these freedom fighters by the Centre.
The chief minister, who was here to pay tributes to legendary freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on the occasion of Shaheedi Divas, asserted that India's trajectory would have been profoundly different had such courageous, youth-driven leadership shaped its early years, and the country's reins had been handed over to such youths.
Mann also laid the foundation stone of the Hussainiwala Heritage Complex, to be built at a cost of Rs 24.99 crore under the centrally funded Bharat Darshan Scheme.
Later, while addressing a gathering, Mann said, "Certain selfish leaders in the country have built stadiums in their own names even while being alive. However, they have done little to honor gallant martyrs like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev who smilingly embraced the gallows for the sake of the freedom of the motherland."
"These iconic revolutionaries sacrificed their lives at a young age but after Independence, others occupied the corridors of power and took credit for the freedom they did not fight for," said Mann, adding that his government had to fight to get the Mohali airport named as Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport.
"These sons of the soil have been reduced to being remembered with flowers, while others claimed the legacy of Independence," said Mann, further adding, "They were hanged early to silence them because people had begun to rally behind their fearless ideas."
Reflecting on the cost of Independence, Mann said no one could have imagined how costly our Independence would be, with around a million people losing their lives during Partition and millions forced to migrate.
He said, "Our elders made immense sacrifices, but those ruling today fail to understand that pain as they inherited a ready-made nation built on those sacrifices."
Continuing his attack at the Modi-led BJP regime, Mann said some thankless leaders now claim that India got "true Independence" only in 2014, which is a grave insult to our martyrs," he said, adding that it was shocking that some even describe Bhagat Singh merely as a "social worker" and not a martyr.
Calling upon people to draw inspiration from the martyrs, he said that it was a day to remember these legendary heroes, to read and listen to their stories which continue to inspire generations of youth, adding that political priorities have long been misplaced due to self-obsessed leaders who have been using the power given by the people for their own vested interests.
Highlighting further steps, Mann said that even the Halwara airport was being named after Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, whom Shaheed Bhagat Singh regarded as his mentor.
"If someone like Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh had become the Prime Minister after the first elections of 1952, the entire map of the country would have been different," said Mann, adding that a 35-year-old youth has become Prime Minister in Nepal.
"If leadership had been handed to youth here as well, India would have been number one in the world," he said.
Mann further said that remembrance must go beyond symbolic gestures, adding that people remember the martyrs only on their birth or martyrdom anniversary days.
"If we follow their ideals, no one can stop Punjab from becoming prosperous again," said Mann.
"Our history is full of sacrifices, and our great Gurus have always taught us to stand against tyranny, injustice and oppression," he said.
Recalling the life of the martyr, he said Bhagat Singh even left home on the day of his engagement, choosing the path of revolution over personal life.
He emphasised, "Today, bombs and weapons are not needed. The power of the ballot is supreme and by choosing the right leaders, people can bring real change."