Several Punjab ministers and Congress MLAs on Thursday led the state in paying homage to former chief minister Beant Singh on his martyrdom anniversary. Beant Singh had sacrificed his life for the peace and security of Punjab on this day 22 years back when he assassinated in a bomb blast in the Secretariat here.A host of Congress leaders laid wreaths and paid glowing tributes to the memory of the former chief minister at the Beant Singh memorial here. Members of Beant’s family, including his son Tej Prakash, daughter Gurkanwal Kaur and grandsons Gurkirat and Ravneet Singh Bittu (MP), join the state-level function, organised by the Punjab government.Though he could not personally attend the event on account of a court appearance, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, in his message, recalled Beant’s sacrifice for Punjab and its people. Beant Singh’s contribution to peace and harmony in the state would forever remain etched in the hearts and minds of the people of Punjab, said Captain Amarinder, adding that Beant’s assassination was a dark day in the state’s history but his sacrifice paved the way for eventual freedom from terrorism.His Political Secretary Captain Sandeep Sandhu laid the wreath at the memorial on behalf of Captain Amarinder.Cabinet ministers Brahm Mohindra, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Manpreet Badal, Tript Rajinder Bajwa, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot and Charanjit Singh Channi also paid homage to Beant Singh. Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Sunil Jakhar and a large number of party MLAs also paid rich tributes to the former chief minister.The two-hour memorial event was marked by prayers. All those present on the occasion were vocal in their praise for Beant Singh’s fearless fight against terrorism, which eventually cost him his life. They lauded his leadership during his tenure as chief minister, from 1992 to 1995, which helped the state crush the pro-Khalistan insurgency that had claimed thousands of innocent lives.