To perpetuate the glorious legacy of Indian freedom martyrs, Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today urged the Union government to install a statue of Bhai Maharaj Singh at Parliament House in New Delhi, to pay a befitting tribute to the first martyr of the national freedom struggle.Addressing a mammoth gathering at a state level function to mark the martyrdom day of Bhai Maharaj Singh here today, the Chief Minister said that this valiant hero had laid down his life for the cause of national freedom thereby igniting a spark amongst the countrymen to uproot the Mighty British Raj from the nation, which ultimately resulted in India’s independence in year 1947. He said that realizing the utmost contribution of Bhai Maharaj Singh the Union government should install his statue to perpetuate the legacy of this great martyr for our coming generations. Mr. Badal asked the Mayor of Municipal Corporation Ludhiana, who was also present on the occasion, to erect statue of Bhai Maharaj Singh at an appropriate place in the city as a heroic tribute to this national hero.
The Chief Minister further said that it was a matter of great pride for them that 90% of the martyrs of the national freedom struggle belonged to the state adding that the Punjabis had played a vanguard role in emancipating the country from the yoke of foreign imperialism. Reiterating that the state government was duty bound to preserve Punjab’s rich heritage of sacrifice, nationalism and patriotism amongst the coming generations, he said that keeping in view this fact they were constructing Jang-e-Azaadi Memorial near Jalandhar, the work on which would initiate soon. Mr. Badal said that this state of art memorial would showcase the immense contribution made by Punjabis in the national freedom struggle besides highlighting the watershed movements of freedom struggle like Kuka, Ghadar and Kamagatamaru episode.
The Chief Minister said that the Punjabis have inherited the traits of sacrifice and martyrdom from the Sikh Gurus who have taught us to vehemently raise voice against the oppression, injustice and tyranny. Mr. Badal said that owing to this only Punjabis have made countless sacrifices during the national freedom struggle and the list of renowned and unsung heroes who played a pivotal role in freedom struggle of the country was very long. He said that the supreme sacrifices made by Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Udham Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai and others had forced the Britishers to leave the nation adding that as a tribute to all these great warriors the state government was constructing befitting memorials for them besides organizing state level functions to mark the important days related to their life.
However the Chief Minister said that it was unfortunate that even after passing of more than 65 years of independence the dreams of the freedom fighters have not been fulfilled yet. He said that owing to the misrule of the Congress, which had remain at the helms of affairs at the centre for a majority of period, the countrymen were confronting the maladies like Poverty, illiteracy, unemployment corruption and others. Mr. Badal said that despite of the fact that Punjabis have made enormous contribution in the freedom struggle the Union government had meted out step motherly treatment to it by snatching its capital and depriving it of its legitimate share in river waters. He said that not only this but the Congress governments had given a major blow to the psyche of Punjabis by irrelevantly meddling in the social, political, economic and even the religious affairs of the state.On the occasion Speaker of Punjab Assembly Mr. Charanjeet Singh Atwal, Chairman Punjab State Subordinate Services Board Jathedar Santa Singh Umedpuri, former Minister Mr. Jagdish Singh Garcha, former MLAs Mr Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal and Mr. Ranjit Singh Talwandi also addressed the gathering.