Recalling the supreme sacrifices made by the Punjabis in the national freedom struggle, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that Punjabis were ever ready to make any sacrifice to safeguard the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country.Addressing the mammoth public gathering after dedicating the first phase of prestigious Jang-e-Azadi memorial here today, the Chief Minister said that despite the fact that Punjabis merely constituted 2.5% of the country’s total population yet over 80% of the sacrifices in terms of execution, incarceration or deportation to the islands of Andaman and Nicobar were made by Punjabis. He said that it was really shocking that the Punjabis were known for creating history but they never bothered to preserve their rich legacy of supreme sacrifices. Mr. Badal said that it was the humble effort made by the state government to set up Jang-e-Azadi memorial to perpetuate the supreme sacrifices made by our great freedom fighters and patriots during the national independence movement portraying a long period of over 100 years. Highly appreciating the indomitable spirit of Punjabis of unprecedented bravery, courage and valour, the Chief Minister said that they had invoked the spirit of self sacrifice from Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji, Sri Guru Arjun Dev ji, Sri Guru Teg Bahadur ji and Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji, who had waged a relentless battle against injustice, tyranny and oppression to safeguard the human rights of the innocent and helpless people. Eulogizing the valiant deeds of our Defence services since ages, Mr. Badal said that our brave soldiers inherited the martial spirit from our great Sikh Gurus for which Punjab has earned the epitaph of being nation’s sword arm. Mr. Badal recalled that the gallantry deeds of great Punjabi soldiers like Naik Karam Singh, Major Somnath Sharma, Air Commodore Baba Mehar Singh, Joginder Singh, General Harbaksh Singh, Air Chief Marshall Arjan Singh, Lieutenant General JS Arora, Captain Bana Singh and several others who brought laurels and glory for the country through their rarest of rare heroic deeds.
The Chief Minister congratulated Chief Editor of the Ajit Dr Barjinder Singh Hamdard for the timely completion of this project. Highly appreciating Dr. Hamdard for sparing his valuable time to complete this project within a record period of two years, he said that all this was possible due to sheer hard work and dedication of Dr. Hamdard. Mr. Badal commended the efforts of Executive Committee of the Jang-e-Azaadi foundation under the apt leadership Dr. Barjinder Singh Hamdard, for transforming his lifetime dream into a reality by constructing the world class ‘Jang-e-Azaadi’ memorial to show case the unparalleled contribution of Punjabis in the national independence movement. The Chief Minister said that the 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. “This world class memorial is a perfect blend of grandeur, aesthetics and architecture” added Mr. Badal. The Chief Minister further said that it was also a matter of sheer pride and honor for us that all the watershed movements associated with the country’s freedom struggle like Kuka, Ghadar, Kamagata Maru, Agrarian, Gurdwara Reforms and Babbar Akali were spear headed by the brave Punjabis from this sacred land. Mr. Badal said that he bows his head in reverence to the martyrs for their supreme contribution in the freedom struggle and said that this Jang-e-Azaadi memorial was a real tribute in recognition to their unprecedented sacrifices, which would ever act as a lighthouse to imbibe the spirit of nationalism and patriotism amongst our future generations. Outlining the immense significance of these memorials, the Chief Minister said that only those nations survive who preserve their culture and other nations who ignored their glorious past were deemed to be vanished.
He said the SAD-BJP government in consonance with this ideology has already constructed state of art Virasat-e-Khalsa memorial at Sri Anandpur Sahib, memorials of big and small holocaust in Kup Rahira and Kahnuwan respectively and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur War memorial at Chappar Chiri. Likewise, Mr. Badal said that state-of-the-art War Heroes' Memorial cum Museum had already being dedicated to the nation. He said that upcoming Temple cum Panorama complex at Bhagwan Valmiki Ji Tirath Sthal would be dedicated to the humanity on December 10. Likewise, Mr. Badal said that Baba Moti Ram Mehra Memorial at Fatehgarh Sahib, Bhai Jaita Ji Memorial at Sri Anandpur Sahib and Guru Ravidass ji memorial at Hoshiarpur would also be dedicated to the mankind shortly.Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that the memorial would live in the memory of the people of Punjab till eternity and would also serve as an inspiration to future generations to remember the martyrs of freedom struggle. Eulogizing the role of Punjabis in the freedom movement, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the Punjabi community made heroic sacrifices in order to enable that the country gets freedom from evil jaws of British rule. He also divulged that whether the death sentences, transportation for life or rigorous jail terms, Punjabi people were always in the forefront. Describing SAD as the true representative of all Punjabis, he said that while on one hand the party fought against the British empire tooth and nail , after independence also it was in the forefront of defending the rights of farmers and fighting for protection of democratic values. The Deputy Chief Minister praised the yeoman's service rendered by the Chief Minister in construction of memorials of all religions thereby preserving the glorious cultural heritage of Punjab besides providing inspiring leadership to SAD -BJP government which has undertaken a slew of measures such as making Punjab power surplus, free power to farmers, free power worth 200 units to SC households , Shagan scheme, health insurance for farmers and traders, Atta -dal scheme, excellent road infrastructure, Meritorious schools etc.
He also said that S. Parkash Singh Badal has always carried the interests of Punjab at his heart and has made great sacrifices for the sake of the state.Reiterating the commitment of SAD-BJP government to continuously strive for prosperity of Punjab, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the overall development of Punjab is an article of faith with the state government which would continue to press for securing interests of Punjab.He also thanked Barjinder Singh Hamdard for taking pains to ensure that the memorial project comes to fruition successfully.In his address, the Chief Editor of Ajit group of newspapers and Member Secretary of Jang-e-Azadi foundation Dr Barjinder Singh Hamdard said that that the constant motivation by the Chief Minister has ensured that this prestigious monument was dedicated to the nation in a record time span of two years. He said that it was a proud moment from him that this project was today being dedicated to people in such a short span with all precision and majesty. Dr Hamdard said that this monument would act as a lighthouse for inspiring the younger generations to tread the path of nationalism and patriotism. Recalling the immense contribution of Punjabis in national freedom struggle, Dr Hamdard said that out of total 2646 exiled in Andaman and Nicobar Islands 2147 were Punjabis. Likewise, he said that out of total 20000soldiers of Indian National Army formed by Netaji Subash Chander Bose 12000 were Punjabi adding that during Namdhari movement 86 heroes were martyred and 21 were sent to Andaman and Nicobar or were imprisoned for life. Similarly, he said that during Ghadar movement 202 patriots attained martyrdom while 315 were life imprisoned or sent to Andaman and Nicobar islands.
Dr Hamdard also reminded the people about heroic deeds of national heroes like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Hari Krishan, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, Lala Lajpat Rai, Madan Lal Dhingra and others besides apprising them about watershed movements like Akali, Babbar Akali, Kuka, Ghadar and others. In his address Union Minister for state and state BJP Chief Mr. Vijay Sampla thanked the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Dr Hamdard for this prestigious project in Doaba- the sacred land of freedom fighters. He said that the state government has proved only alliance could preserve the glorious history of state and serve the people by taking inspiration from this rich heritage. Mr. Sampla also listed the path breaking initiatives taken by state government to perpetuate our rich cultural heritage by constructing several memorials.Earlier Deputy Chief Minister accompanied by Cabinet Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia felicitated the freedom fighters and next of their kin with a shawl and a momento.Later the Chief Minister also honored the noted film director Mr. Shyam Benegal and Architect of the project Mr. Raj Rawail. Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included Speaker Punjab Assembly Dr Charanjeet Singh Atwal, Cabinet Ministers Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema, Jathedar Ajit Singh Kohar and Mr Sohan Singh Thandal, Lok Sabha MP Jathedar Ranjeet Singh Brahmpura, Rajya Sabha MPs Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder, MLAs Mr KD Bhandari, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Bibi Mohinder Kaur Josh, Mr Avinash Chander, Mr Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Mr Pawan Kumar Teenu, Mr Joginder Singh Jeendu, Chaudhary Nand Lal, Mr. Som Parkash and Mr Gurpratap Singh Wadala, former MP Mr Tarlochan Singh, former state BJP chief Mr Kamal Sharma, former Minister Bibi Upinder jeet Kaur, former MLA Mr Sarabjeet Singh Makkar, Chairman MARKFED Mr Jarnail Singh Wahid, senior Akali leader Mr Darbara Singh Guru, Seth Satpal Mall, Jathedar Rajinder Singh Nagra, President of Youth Akali Dal Doaba zone Mr Sarbjot Singh Saabi, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr SK Sandhu, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema, Secretary Cultural Affairs Mr. Hussan Lal, Vice Chancellor of Punjabi University Prof. Jaspal Singh, Deputy Inspector General of Police Mr Rajinder Singh, Deputy Commissioner Mr KK Yadav and Senior Superintendent of Police Mr Rajinder Singh.