Breaking away the tradition of conferring the highest civilian award ‘Bharat Ratna’ to the country’s eminent personalities, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today impressed upon the Government of India (GoI) to bestow upon this coveted award to the legendary Marshal of the Air Force Mr. Arjan Singh, in recognition with his outstanding contribution towards safeguarding the unity and integrity of the nation. Addressing a mammoth gathering after unveiling the foundation stone of Punjab State War Heroes Memorial and Museum here, the Chief Minister vehemently pleaded that Mr. Arjun Singh deserved this highest honour because he was the lone survivor in the line of top most Army Officers Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and Field Marshal KM Cariappa. He said that the outstanding services rendered by Mr. Arjan Singh in Air Force in various capacities made him eligible for ‘Bharat Ratna’ in the Defence Category, which was so far given to the noted civilians from different walks of life.Championing the cause of millions of Serving Defence Personnel and Veterans, the Chief Minister urged the Centre to immediately concede the long pending demand of ‘One Rank One Pension’ so that they could lead a comfortable life after retirement. He also echoed for another genuine demand of recruitment of Punjabis in the Armed forces thereby asking the Union government to reverse its criteria of male population ratio in the selection process, so that the states like Punjab having just 2.5% of the country’s total population could secure jobs in the Defence Services keeping in view state’s rich legacy of gallantry in Indian Armed Forces since time immemorial.Announcing a bonanza for the serving and ex-servicemen, the Chief Minister said that the state government would soon launch a special drive to fill the backlog of vacancies reserved for Ex-servicemen in various departments, boards and corporations.
Badal also announced to double the amount of loan extended to war widows for construction of houses from existing Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh besides enhancing the war jagir from Rs 5000 to Rs 10000 per month. He also announced to waive off the property tax on the house property owned by the serving Army personnel and Ex-servicemen.Acceding to another demand of the Ex-Servicemen, the Chief Minister also announced to immediately slash the VAT charged on the CSD items from 6.5% to 4%./ In a major reprieve to the serving army personnel and veteran, he also announced to set up a special court at Jalandhar for quick dispensation of justice to them besides opening two Police Stations at Jalandhar and Amritsar to be directly supervised by an officer not below the rank of SP. Mr. Badal also announced to start a toll free number in the office of Financial Commissioner Revenue (FCR) at Chandigarh to enable the serving and veteran army personnel to get all their cases resolved related to revenue matters especially the eviction of houses.Highly enthused with the superb performance and success of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Academy at Mohali, the Chief Minister also announced to establish another academy namely Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for girls to enable them to be selected in Armed Forces. He also said that the state government had already allotted 200 acres land to the GoI for setting up of Service Selection Centre (North) at Rupnagar for the recruitment of officers in the Armed Forces.
Apart from this a state-of-the art naval academy was also being set up at Rupnagar to train the youth for their recruitment in navy, where there was a lot of scope but the youth was not coming forth in this field due to non-availability of training infra structure and lack of knowledge. Cheering up the young cadets, the Chief Minister also announced to hike the refreshment charges of the NCC Cadets from Rs 6 to Rs 25 and diet charges during the camps from Rs 75 to Rs 95.Hailing the enormous contribution Punjabi Defence Officers and Soldiers in safeguarding the borders of the country, the Chief Minister said that the construction of world class memorial cum museum over an area of seven acre on Amritsar-Attari Road was a tribute to their unprecedented valour and zeal to serve their motherland. He said that these soldiers have imbibed the spirit of self sacrifice from our great Gurus- Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji, Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji and Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji who fought relentlessly against the tyranny, oppression and injustice unleashed by the then Mughal Emperors and always championed the human rights for the welfare of mankind. Reiterating his firm commitment for the welfare of serving defence personnel and veterans, Mr. Badal said that the state government was ever ready to facilitate these ‘great sons of the soil’ who spent their lives by braving odds to ensure the entire countrymen asleep peacefully.
In his address the Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal urged the Chief Minister to take up the matter of granting ‘One Rank One Pension’ with the Centre, which was pending since long. Lauding the Chief Minister for taking this unique initiative of constructing this memorial at a cost of Rs 100 crore, he said that such war memorials should be replicated in every other state to rekindle the dying spirit of patriotism and nationalism amongst our youth. Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal unequivocally said that only those nations survive, which remember and respect their martyrs for time to come. The Deputy Chief Minister said that the heroic deeds of defence officers and soldiers in safeguarding our motherland must be made a part of academic curriculum not only in the state board education but also in Central Board of School Education, with an objective to imbibe the spirit of patriotism amongst the youngsters. He recalled the outstanding services rendered by the Army during the peacetime especially in the relief and resettlement operations taken by it during flash floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters.While purposing a vote of thanks, the Revenue, Information & Public Relations Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia said that the upcoming Punjab State War Heroes Memorial and Museum at this holy city would offer an opportunity to nearly 1 lakh pilgrims who daily pay obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib to also salute their war heroes and martyrs. He said that with this memorial this holy city which was known for humanism and religious tolerance across the globe till now would also be a new address for paying glorious tribute to our revered army officers and soldiers for their unparalleled courage and bravery.
It was all the more important and relevant in case of Punjab as it was world over known for its martyrs, added Mr. Majithia. Speaking on the occasion General (Retired) Shankar Roy Chaudhary highly appreciated the Chief Minister for taking a laudatory step for erecting this memorial to eulogize the rare deeds of Army soldiers and officers during various Military Operations. Without mincing any words General (Retd.) Roy said a great task which the centre could not undertook, the Punjab government has done it thereby cherishing the aspirations of millions of their brethren. Going a step further, he said this memorial deserved a national status and centre should come forward to declare it. In his address General (Retd.) JJ Singh saluted the martial spirit of Punjabis saying Punjab was not only a land of five rivers but it was sacred land of warriors, winners and martyrs. He said we should bow our head in reverence to the heroic deeds of brave Army Soldiers who even laid down their lives at the altar of their motherland. General (Retd.) Singh said that this rare memorial would give an impetus to perpetuate the rich legacy of Defence personnel right from the rank of soldier to General besides propelling a movement to set up such memorial at the national level.
He called upon the youth to shun the tendency of going abroad in search of green pastures as our country has tremendous opportunities of gainful employment and they should serve here with dignity rather being humiliated there by doing menial jobs. General (Retd) Singh appealed the Army personnel to atleast adopt one poor and disadvantaged child to enable him to study thereby transforming his destiny and ultimately of the nation. On the occasion, the Chief Minister accompanied by the Deputy Chief Minister also honoured the Marshal of Air Force Mr. Arjan Singh, who was the star attraction of the function, with the replica of Sri Harmandir Sahib. Besides Gen. Retd. SK Sinha, Gen. Retd. JJ Singh, Gen. Retd. Shankar Rai Chaudhary, Gen. Retd. Deepak Kapoor, Admiral Retd. VS Sekhawat and Madvendra Singh were felicitated with a shawl, a sword and a memento of memorial. Apart from this a number of serving and retired Army Officers besides war widows (Veer Naris) were also felicitated by the Chief Minister.Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Cabinet Minister Mr. Chunni Lal Bhagat, Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike and Mr. Anil Joshi, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Prof. Virsa Singh Valtoha, Mr. Amar Pal Singh Bonni and Mr. Inderbir Singh Bularia, Adviser to Chief Minister on National Affairs and Media Mr. Harcharan Bains, Media Advisor to Deputy Chief Minister Mr.Jangvir Singh, State BJP President Mr. Kamal Sharma, Chief Editor Ajit Group of Newspapers Mr. Barjinder Singh Hamdard, Resident Editor Indian Express Mr.Vipin Pubby, Editor in Chief Daily Post Mr. Manish Tiwari, Former Ministers Mr. Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Mr. Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Mr. Nirmal Singh Kahlon and Captain Balbir Singh Baath, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. SK Sandhu, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema, Principal Secretary Defence Welfare Mr. SR Ladhar, Director Information and Public Relations Mr. Ashwani Kumar and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Ravi Bhagat.