Envisioning Jalandhar as a major tourist destination, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that the upcoming Jang-E-Azaadi memorial would give much needed boost to tourism in the region.Interacting with the officers/officials during his visit to the site of upcoming memorial, the Chief Minister, accompanied by Managing Editor of Ajit group of Newspapers Dr Barjinder Singh Hamdard, said that this state of the art memorial would emerge Punjab on the world tourist map. He said that besides giving impetus to tourist potential in the state this memorial would also go a long way in making the younger generations abreast of their rich heritage of valour, patriotism and self sacrifice that was the driving force behind our national freedom struggle. Mr. Badal said that this memorial would aptly showcase each and every facet of our national freedom struggle in an appropriate manner. The Chief Minister said that it was a matter of pride for every Punjabi that more than 80% of people who laid their life for country during the national freedom struggle hailed from the state. However, he bemoaned that there was not even a single memorial of such heroes neither at national or state level due to which people were unaware of their immense contribution. “Therefore being true custodian of rich cultural heritage of state it is our bounden duty to construct this memorial”, added. Mr Badal.
Highly appreciating Dr. Hamdard for sparing his valuable time for early completion of this project, the Chief Minister said that this project was a result of hard work and dedication of Dr. Hamdard. Mr. Badal said that the upcoming memorial would play a vital role and act as a beacon to acquaint our younger generations about the saga of great sacrifices made by our martyrs especially from Punjab to free their motherland from the yoke of British imperialism. “I am sure once completed this world class memorial will be a perfect blend of grandeur, aesthetics and architecture” added Mr. Badal.Earlier, the President of the Executive Committee of the Jang-E-Azaadi Foundation Dr Barjinder Singh Hamdard apprised the Chief Minister about the ongoing work on this memorial. He said that the entire civil work on this project would be completed soon and this project would be dedicated to nation on November 6.The Chief Minister was accompanied by Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr. Pawan Kumar Teenu, MLA Mr. Sarwan Singh Phillaur, his Joint Special Principal Secretary Mr. Kumar Amit, Inspector General of Police Mr. Lok Nath Aangra, Deputy Commissioner Mr. KK Yadav and Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Harmohan Singh.