Patting the Punjab Police for showing exemplary courage to combat the terrorist attack in Dina Nagar on Monday, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today urged the Government of India (GoI) to generously issue funds for modernization of the Police force in the state so as to thwart any attempt aimed at challenging the sovereignty and security of the country.Interacting with the media persons after paying tributes to legendary martyr Shaheed Udham Singh on his martyrdom day here today, the Chief Minister said that Punjab being a border state deserves special attention from the Union government. He said that the GoI must treat Punjab as a unique state from the rest of the country and show magnanimity while allocating funds for the modernization of state Police. Mr. Badal said that the brave cops of Punjab demonstrated commendable valor and dedication for protecting the unity and integrity of the country during the terror attack at Dina Nagar for which even the Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Mr. Rajnath Singh have appreciated them.
Replying to a query regarding the allegations being leveled by the Lok Sabha MP Captain Amarinder Singh regarding overlooking of IB alert by the state government, the Chief Minister, while terming them as ‘baseless and unwarranted’, said that the political leadership must desist from politicization of this grave issue concerning the unity and integrity of the country. He categorically said that it was the duty of every countryman to fight against the forces inimical to the unity, integrity, communal harmony and brotherhood in the state. “But it was the foremost duty of the political leadership to avoid politics on these issues of grave national interest” added Mr. Badal.Earlier, paying rich tributes to Shaheed Udham Singh, the Chief Minister said that this true son of soil had in a heroic act exhibited exemplary courage by killing Michael O’ Dwyer, the prime perpetrator of Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Mr. Badal said that the supreme sacrifice made by this son of the soil at the altar of national freedom struggle helped the country to overthrow the yoke of British Imperialism. He also recalled the unparalleled sacrifice made by legendary martyrs like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Udham Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai, Sukhdev and others during the Indian freedom movement.
The Chief Minister further said that in order to pay homage to such great heroes and other Punjabis who had made more than 80% sacrifices in national freedom struggle, the state government was constructing ‘Jang-e-Azaadi’ memorial at Kartarpur in district Jalandhar. He said that the state government was committed for constructing a memorial to perpetuate the life and struggle of Shaheed Udham Singh adding that they were finding a suitable chunk of land for this purpose.Badal asked the Cabinet Minister Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa and Deputy Commissioner to search suitable land for this motive.The Chief Minister further said that Punjab government has postponed the annual state level function to observe this sacred day in the light of weeklong national mourning in the memory of former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, who passed away on July 27. However, he said that the fresh date for the state level function to be observed with regard to martyrdom of Shaheed Udham Singh would be announced later on.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also visited the free Medical camp organized by Youth Akali Dal Malwa Zone II to commemorate this sacred day. The President of YAD Malwa Zone II Mr. Harpal Juneja apprised the Chief Minister about the medical facilities being provided to the people.The Chief Minister was accompanied by Rajya Sabha MP Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Cabinet Minister Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sant Balbir Singh Ghunas, former Union Minister Mr. Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, MLAs Mr. Gobind Singh Longowal and Mr. Iqbal Singh Jhunda, Vice Chairman of Punjab Mandi Board Mr. Ravinder Singh Cheema, his Special Principal Secretary Dr. S Karuna Raju and Deputy Commissioner Mr. AS Thind.