Anupama Nair
I am a proud Indian today. The international airport in Chandigarh was on September 28, 2022, christened Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport after our Kohinoor Heera our beloved Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an announcement in his Mann Ki Bath speech. How could Bharat Ma’s true son forget another unlike the previous governments only glorified one family?.
The Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who was the chief guest at an event at the airport, thanked the Prime Minister for deciding to rename the airport "We are fortunate that we are able to dedicate ourselves in at least remembering the great sacrifice, and grateful that the Punjab and Haryana governments overcame their differences to come together over the name change.
She reiterated about Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) and the target to turn the country into a developed nation by 2047, on the 100th year of Independence. "We should be known as a developed country by 2047," she said. She said she was proud noting that India was at 11th in terms of economic strength 10 years ago, and now we have become 5th over-taking our colonial masters UK..
Mr. Mann also thanked Mr. Modi for renaming the airport after Bhagat Singh. It was a long-pending demand to rename the airport after Bhagat Singh. Referring to his recent meeting with Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala over the issue, Mr. Mann said a letter was sent to the Civil Aviation Ministry to rename the airport. It was demanded that the announcement be made before the freedom fighter's birth anniversary on September 28, he recalled.
On the occasion, Mr. Mann urged the Centre to start more international flights from the airport to facilitate the Punjabi diaspora across the globe. He sought direct flights to London, New York, San Francisco, Canada, Australia and other places from Chandigarh airport. He claimed these flights will benefit passengers from neighboring States as well.
A true tribute to the son of Bharat Ma!
