Bringing the curtains down on Military Literature Festival-2018, Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal on Sunday announced that the State Government would set up a special corpus fund for holding the Festival as an annual event, regardless of which party comes in power.
This would help institutionalize the gala event as a permanent affair in the State, said Manpreet, while also underlined the need for an amendment to the Constitution for nominating representatives from the ex-servicemen fraternity in the Rajya Sabha, besides ensuring their representation in Block Samitis, Zila Parishads, Panchayats and other democratically elected bodies.
Manpreet, apologizing for Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s inability to attend his scheduled MLF sessions, said that the Chief Minister had made extensive preparations but could not make it due to health reasons; and “therefore, the Chief Minister has deputed me to attend the concluding function”. Chief Minister’s Senior Advisor Lt Gen (retired) Tejinder Singh Shergill said that the event would go a long way in motivating youth to join defence forces in the larger interest of the nation’s security, integrity and sovereignty.
The event had received enthusiastic response, with a massive footfall, which crossed 13,000 yesterday and the 20,000 mark today, he said.
During the three-day event, the Food Court, Martial Arts display, Weaponry Exhibition of Operation Vijay, Military Art and Photography exhibition, along with Clarion Call Theatre, attracted massive crowds, along with the stimulating panel discussions on all days. Military Arts and Photography exhibition at the festival also attracted massive crowds during the event. People evinced a lot of interest in the rare pictures that were displayed during the exhibition.