79 Cyclists Ride 79 km in BSF Rally Celebrating 79th Independence Day

SRINAGAR: Seventy-nine cyclists, including 40 local youth and 39 Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, covered 79 kilometres from Bandipora to Humhama as part of the ‘Pedal for Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ rally marking the 79th Independence Day. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha felicitated the participants at a ceremony organised at BSF Frontier Headquarters in Humhama on Monday.

The rally route — BSF Campus Bandipora, Manasbal, Sumbal, Shalateng, Hyderpora, Bakshi Stadium and Frontier HQ Humhama — symbolised India’s 79 years of independence, celebrating its diversity, unity, and collective identity.

Congratulating the BSF for the initiative, LG Sinha said the event was a tribute to soldiers and officers who displayed “incredible valour, courage, and sacrifice” in safeguarding the nation’s unity and integrity. He noted that the rally would inspire youth to join security forces.

“The 79 km covered represents the nation’s journey over 79 years, with each cyclist reflecting society’s strength and every soldier embodying the nation’s resilience,” he said. Emphasising national unity, he added, “From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, India is one… We must inculcate the spirit of ‘Nation First’ and prioritise nation-building over personal interests.”

LG Sinha called upon citizens to work towards Viksit Jammu Kashmir and Viksit Bharat, urging vigilance against divisive forces and participation in the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign. He also paid tribute to civilians killed in the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, vowing that Pakistan would “pay a very heavy price” for any bloodshed.

The felicitation ceremony was attended by senior BSF officers, civil and police officials, and a large number of youth.