<span style="color: black;">Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today said, Punjab would always be at the forefront of fighting the enemy at the borders. The Chief Minister was addressing after hoisting the national flag at Mohali on Independence Day.</span><br />'' <span style="color: black;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: black;">Recalling the recent barbaric attack on Indian soldiers by the Chinese forces, he said, while Pakistan continues to resort to firing every day, China, on the other hand, talks about friendship but remains a danger to our nation. He said, India has always given Pakistan a befitting response, which is the only way to deal with them. He added that China also needs to be handled with the same iron hand.</span><br />'' <span style="color: black;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: black;">Recalling the contributions of the millions of Indians to the freedom struggle, the Chief Minister said Punjabis had always been at the forefront of every battle. The cellular jail in Kaala Paani (Andaman Islands) have the names of tens of hundreds of Punjabis etched in immortality, he said, adding that even though the Independence Day celebrations this year were low-key due to the COVID pandemic, this was the time to remember the sacrifices of all those who had made freedom possible for us. It was also the time to salute the defence forces guarding the nation's borders from the enemy, he added.</span><br />'' <span style="color: black;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: black;">Paying his tributes to Punjab's freedom fighters, Captain Amarinder reiterated his government's commitment to extend all benefits of freedom fighters to their next generations.</span><br />'' <span style="color: black;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: black;">At the same time, Captain Amarinder saluted the Health Workers and Paramedics who were continuously fighting the invisible COVID enemy, along with the NGOs and religious organisations that have worked tirelessly to provide free food and medicine during the period of lockdown.</span><br />'' <span style="color: black;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: black;">He also acknowledged the great work done by the farmers, who have produced the food that fed the nation during the lockdown period and government officials who are serving the people in these difficult times.</span><br />'' <br />''