700-km human chain in border districts pays tribute to martyrs

JAISALMER: A human chain, in which around three lakh residents, jawans and officers from BSF and Army participated, was formed along the international border with Pakistan on Tuesday, to pay tribute to martyrs who sacrificed their lives protecting the country's borders. The 700-km chain was formed from Sriganganagar to Barmer in the four border districts of Rajasthan.
CM Vasundhara Raje inspected the human chain by helicopter and showered flowers. She visited the war museum at Jaisalmer, laid wreath at the martyr memorial and paid tribute to martyrs. The spectacle made it seem as if India got its freedom today, with all the four districts - Jaisalmer, Sriganganagar, Barmer and Bikaner - decorated with tricolour flags and balloons. Tricolour flags, put on the 84 burjs of Sonar Fort, were adding to its splendour.

Raje said, "The entire country is with the soldiers guarding the borders. The human chain is organised to give true tributes to the martyrs. By this way we wanted to show the brave soldiers that the entire India is with them."

Jaisalmer in-charge Hemant Gera, district collector O.P.Kasera and Barmer district collector Shiv Prasad Nakate, took all possible efforts to make the programme a success. Raje was elated seeing the human chain and she also released colourful balloons in the air, standing with the general public. People, including children, participated enthusiastically in the programme, while waving the tricolour flags in their hands.

On Tuesday, at 11.30am, Raje reached Uttarlai air force station by an official plane and left from there in a helicopter and reached the Army cantonment at 12.30pm, where she was welcomed by Army station commander, Major General O.P.Gulia, deputy GOC Brigadier Ajit Kapoor, Senior IAS and Jaisalmer in-charge Sudhansh Pant, DIG Jodhpur Police Range R.Suhasa, and other officials.

Raje cheered the children standing in the human chain and stood along with them in the chain. Around 1pm, after the national anthem, she paid tribute to the martyrs. She met the family members of the martyrs and war widows, and honoured them. She then visited the war museum and paid her tribute.

People from nearby districts came to Jaisalmer in 200 buses to participate in the revelry and over one lakh people participated and paid their respects to the martyrs and jawans on-duty, guarding the country's borders.