Punjab CM wishes to receive Abhinandan; Attari JCP witnesses festive look, many gather to receive their hero

Holding the National Flag and raising slogans in praise of their real hero amid drums beating, scores of people from Amritsar and surrounding areas have assembled at the Attari Joint Check Post (JCP) to receive Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman who is likely to reach here this afternoon.

People started arriving at Attari-Wagah border early this morning and their numbers have been continuously swelling. The anxious crowds have arranged garlands and flowers in huge quantity to give a warm welcome to Abhinandan. The Attari JCP is wearing a festive look with the enthusiastic people assembling here in large number.

In high spirits, youth, elderly and even children who have assembled at the Attari Joint JCP are eager to have a glimpse of the brave pilot who shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet while guarding his land at the international border.

Meanwhile, Abhinandan’s parents – Air Marshal S Varthaman (retd. and mother Shobha Varthaman, doctor by profession, are expected to receive their son in Amritsar who has made the nation proud.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh, who is touring the border districts of the state after tension aggravated between India and Pakistan, has expressed his wish to receive Wing Commander Abhinandan at the Attari JCP.

Capt. Amarinder Singh in a tweet has written, “Dear Narendra Modi ji, I’m touring the border areas of Punjab and I’m presently in Amritsar. Came to know that the Pakistan government has decided to release Abhinandan Vartaman from Wagha. It will be a honour for me to go and receive him, as he and his father are alumnus of the NDA as I am.”

The Indian Air Force has also made arrangements to welcome their daredevil Wing Commander Abhinandan. A delegation of the IAF will receive Abhinandan at Attari.