Minister for Health and Medical Education Department, ARI and Trainings Choudhary Lal Singh on Wednesday paid floral tributes to Maharaja Gulab Singh on his 194th Raj Tilak Divas observed at Chenab (Jeo Pota) Ghat in Akhnoor, the place where he was crowned as Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.The function was organized by Maharaja Gulab Singh Raj Tilak Celebration Committee in collaboration with Maharaja Gulab Singh Memorial Trust.MLC Yuvraj Vikramaditya Singh, former Minister Mr. Sham Lal Sharma, former Member Public Service Commission Mr. Kulbushan Jandial, Chairman Maharaja Gulab Singh Raj Tilak Celebration Committee Thakur K P Singh, Director Doordarshan Mrs. Anjli Sharma, Secretary Dharamarth Trust, Mr. Shashi Khajuria, Incharge SSP Jammu Mr. Rajiv Pandey, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Akhnoor Mr. Rakesh Kumar and SSP Traffic Mr. Mohan Lal besides other representatives of Maharaja Gulab Singh Raj Tilak Celebration Committee and people in thousands were present on the occasion and paid floral homage to Maharaj Gulab Singh.
Paying tributes to Maharaja Gulab Singh, Choudhary Lal Singh said that contribution of Maharaja for welfare and development of the state would be recognized and remembered by generations to come. He described him as a visionary, brave and great human being who provided justice to all and treated the public as his own family members. “Maharaja was one of the greatest personalities that India produced in the nineteenth century”, he maintained.The Minister said Maharaja Gulab Singh took personal interest in the management of the affairs of the state. He restored order in his territories, reduced refractory chiefs and through remarkable campaigns connected Kishtwar, Baltistain, Ladakh and Gilgit. Various accounts of his intrepidity, heroism and meteoric rise constitute some of the most thrilling chapters in the history of India, he added.
Choudhary Lal Singh said that Government is well abreast with people’s problems living in hilly and border areas and is making all efforts to mitigate those in a phased manner. He said provision of road connectivity, drinking water, health, education, irrigation and power in every nook and corner of the state top agenda of the Government. He also said that faster development of Akhnoor town was receiving priority attention in the policy planning and various development projects like 200 bedded hospital, mini secretariat, Nursing College, Ayurvedic College, Navodhya Vidyalaya and preservation of Akhnoor Fort is in full swing.
Referring to works taken up at the right bank of river Chenab including Jeo Pota Ghat, the Minister said that a comprehensive plan for channelization in the river Chenab is in progress. He informed that the place is being developed on the pattern of Harki Pori Haridwar in view of the significance of the spot for local people adding that Akhnoor fort is also being developed as heritage site.Speaking on the occasion, MLC Yuvraj Vikramaditya Singh highlighted the importance of Jio-Pota where historic Raj Tilak ceremony was performed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh for anointment of Gulab Singh as Ruler of Jammu. He said Jio-Pota place will be developed with modern line basic amenities so that the pilgrims could enjoy their spare time with full joy there.
He said that contribution of Maharaja for the state of Jammu and Kashmir would remain incomparable in coming times and described him a visionary, brave and a great human being who did justice to all and treated the public as his own family members. His memories shall remain evergreen in the minds of every person of this state with great honour, the MLC maintained. Mr. Singh said that the present Government is making every efforts to restore the pristine glory of heritage sites and steps are being taken to show case these to attract the tourist and increase their stay in the state, particularly the pilgrims tourists of Shri Mata Vaishno Deviji, Shri Amarnath ji and Shivkhori shrine.