Vijay Diwas parade taken out in Fazilka

A victory parade was taken out in Fazilka town today to mark Vijay Diwas celebrations. Nearly 200 war veterans, veer naris and family members of the martyrs, who laid down their lives in Fazilka sector in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, participated in the parade.

The parade started from Shaheed Bhagat Singh market, opposite the District Administrative Complex, and culminated at the busy clock tower chowk. Brigade Commander Sushil Chandwani, Deputy Commissioner Amarpreet Kaur Sandhu, Senior Superintendent of Police Varinder Singh Brar, Army officers and town residents also participated in the parade.

“The war could not have been won without the active support of Fazilka people in 1971. They stood by the Army and extended their full support," said octogenarian Col MS Gill (retd), while addressing the gathering at the clock tower. Gill participated in the war as second-in-charge of 4 Jat Regiment.

The family members of the martyrs were sitting in decorated jeeps and town residents and shopkeepers came out of their houses and shops to shower flower petals on them and other participants during the victory parade. The shopkeepers also distributed laddoos and sweets to the participants. Army and school bands and bhangra presented by students were the major attraction.

Addressing the gathering, Brigade Commander Sushil Chandwani said the enemy dare not challenge the country as the Army shall teach a suitable lesson to them.

The programme was organised by the Shaheedon Ki Samadhi Committee, which has been looking after one of the best privately managed Asafwala War Memorial for the past 52 years. Committee Presidium member Sandeep Gilhotra said on the last day of two-day Vijay Diwas celebrations on Tuesday, the martyrs' kin would be honoured and a tribute ceremony would held at Asafwala War memorial. Senior Army officers, Cabinet Minister and Punjab AAP president Aman Arora will honour the family members in tomorrow’s programme.