Jalandhar, August 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat unfurled the Tricolour at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium in Jalandhar on Saturday as the district celebrated the 80th Independence Day with patriotic fervour.
Bhagat, who holds the portfolios of Horticulture, Freedom Fighters and Defence Services Welfare, inspected the parade and took the salute from the impressive march-past. Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Walia and Commissioner of Police Satinder Singh were also present.
Addressing the gathering, Bhagat paid tribute to freedom fighters and martyrs, including Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Udham Singh, Madan Lal Dhingra, Lala Lajpat Rai and Diwan Singh Kalepani. He said Punjabis took pride in having made some of the greatest sacrifices during India’s freedom struggle.
He said the Punjab government was working to realise the vision of the martyrs and build a “Rangla Punjab”. The government, he said, had raised ex-gratia compensation for the families of martyred soldiers from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore, with Agniveers also covered under the scheme. Families of police personnel who die in the line of duty are also eligible for financial assistance of Rs 1 crore.
Horticulture and irrigation
Bhagat said a nearly Rs 1,300-crore horticulture project was being launched with the support of Japan’s JICA to promote climate-resilient and high-value horticultural crops and increase farmers’ incomes. He said the area under horticulture in Punjab had expanded to 5.21 lakh hectares.
He said Rs 7,200 crore had been spent on improving canal irrigation. The area receiving canal water had increased from 20.89 lakh acres, or 26.5 per cent, in 2022 to around 60.30 lakh acres, or 80 per cent, now.
Heritage and development initiatives
The minister said year-long programmes were being organised to mark the 650th Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Ravidas Ji, with Rs 100 crore allocated in the state budget. A Sri Guru Ravidas Ji Bani Adhiyan Kendra is also being developed over more than 10 acres at Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar at an estimated cost of Rs 37 crore.
Under the Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Yojana, more than four lakh devotees have so far travelled to religious places, while the scheme has now been expanded to cover religious sites outside Punjab.
The budget for the Rangla Punjab Vikas Scheme has been doubled from Rs 585 crore in 2025-26 to Rs 1,170 crore for 2026-27, with priority given to education, healthcare, sports, drinking water, sanitation and rural development.
Women, health and welfare
Bhagat said more than 74.59 lakh women had registered under the Mukh Mantri Mawan-Dhiyan Satkaar Yojana. As of August 1, financial assistance of Rs 2,274.42 crore had been transferred to the bank accounts of 65.62 lakh beneficiaries. In Jalandhar, more than 5.21 lakh women have been registered under the scheme.
Under the Meri Rasoi initiative, more than 33 lakh ration kits had been distributed across Punjab by July, including over 2.40 lakh in Jalandhar.
The Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana provides cashless treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh at more than 900 government and empanelled private hospitals. More than six crore people have also availed free treatment through 1,090 Aam Aadmi Clinics. The government has additionally dedicated 356 high-tech ambulances to the people of Punjab.
Action against drugs and crime
Bhagat said more than 75,000 drug smugglers had been arrested since March 1, 2025, under the “Yudh Nasheyan Virudh” campaign.
He said the government had also launched a campaign against gangsters and claimed that more than 59,000 gangsters, their associates and accused wanted in various cases had been arrested.
Jobs, education and sports
The minister said the state government had provided more than 69,000 government jobs since April 2022.
He highlighted initiatives under the Punjab Education Revolution and said the government was also promoting sports and constructive activities among youth. A total of 275 modern rural libraries have been established, while around 3,100 rural sports grounds are being constructed to help athletes prepare for national and international competitions. Modern gyms are also being established in villages.
Bhagat said sportspersons who had excelled at national and international levels were being rewarded with government jobs and other incentives. Eleven prominent athletes had been appointed to PCS and DSP positions, he said.
At the conclusion of the function, the minister honoured families of freedom fighters and martyrs and distributed tricycles, wheelchairs and sewing machines among needy beneficiaries.
Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, MLA Balkar Singh, ADGP Nageshwar Rao, Divisional Commissioner Ramveer Singh, District and Sessions Judge Priya Sood, Mayor Vineet Dhir, District Planning Committee Chairman Amritpal Singh, Punjab Agro Export Corporation Limited Chairman Mangal Singh Bassi, Jalandhar Improvement Trust Chairman Ramneek Singh Randhawa, AAP leaders Rajwinder Kaur Thiara and Nitin Kohli, among others, attended the event.
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