Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha Kultar Singh Sandhawan while paying homage to former President Giani Zail Singh on his death anniversary at village Sandhwan, remembered his contribution for sake of the country especially for Punjab.
S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan also compared stature of Giani ji with American President Abraham Lincoln and said that despite being associated with power for half a century, he remained humble and remained committed for the welfare of the backward classes.
He said that Giani Zail Singh ji was a devotee Sikh and he was instrumental to construct the Guru Gobind Singh Marg to commemorate yatra of Sahib.S. Sandhwan, who is himself the grandson of Giani Zail Singh Ji’s brother, recalled the time of his tenure and specifically mentioned the creation of Faridkot as a district.
He said that Giani Ji was acquired buildings from the same former Maharaja of Faridkot who persecuted him before the independence. It was only as a result of his efficient administrative experience that he carried everyone along and rose from the Chief Minister to the highest office of the country.
S. Sandhwan said that Giani ji was a visionary and stalwart politician. Giving an example of how he put his family and politics separate, he said that when Giani ji was became the Chief Minister, he took his son to Gurdwara Sahib and took pledge that his son would stay away from official work.
Describing Giani ji as a ‘Vikas Purash’, Speaker Mr. Sandhwan said that Punjab attained the tag of 100 percent electrified villages during his tenure. Similarly, bringing a medical college in Faridkot was also the result of his visionary thinking.
He also recalled that the ashes of Shaheed Udham Singh ji was also came to India with the efforts of Giani Zail Singh ji. He also built memorials of the great martyrs of Punjab. He added that Giani ji participated in the freedom struggle by joining Parjamandal Movement as well as played the vanguard role to implement the plan to honor the freedom fighters with Tamar Pattars (Appreciation Letters).
Pertinently, Giani ji was passed away on 25th December 1994. On this occasion, apart from Speaker Mr. Sandhwan, other dignitaries were also offered flower tributes on the statue of Giani Zail Singh and expressed their respect.