In his Republic Day message, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria urged the youth to spearhead a people’s movement against drugs and focus on education, skill development and entrepreneurship.After unfurling the national flag at a state-level function, he appealed to academic institutions to set up campuses in the state’s border districts to aid development.“I feel deeply privileged and emotional to unfurl the national flag at the border town of Fazilka because of its enduring role as a protector of national security and a land that has witnessed countless tales of courage and patriotism,” said Kataria.Addressing the gathering, the Governor called upon residents of border areas to join his anti-drug padyatra proposed to be taken out from Fazilka from February 8 to 11.He recounted Fazilka’s past as a wool trade centre of undivided Punjab and currently renowned for produces of wheat, paddy, cotton, kinnow and ‘tosha’ sweet.Pays homage to martyrsKataria paid homage to martyrs at the historic Asafwala War Memorial, built in memory of 232 Indian soldiers who laid down their lives while defending the country during 1971 India-Pakistan war.


