Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today offered to install a life sized statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh- the great Sikh warrior, who ruled the first Sikh kingdom at Saint-Tropez in France, the birth place of his General Jean-Francois Allard.
This assurance was given by Mr. Badal during a meeting with Deputy Mayor of Saint Tropez Mr. Henri Allard, the direct lineal descendant of Gen. Allard here at Chief Minister’s residence this evening. Taking part in the deliberations, Mr. Henri Allard from the fourth generation of Gen. Allard apprised Badal that they intend to install a statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Saint Tropez as a mark of respect to the great king of first Sikh empire.
He told the Chief Minister that Gen. Allard (French) along with Gen. Ventura (Italian) served in the army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and both made an enormous contribution for the modernization of his military through their strategic experience and raised Fauj-i-khas, the “special” or “royal” brigade. He said the installation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s statue at Saint Tropez would go a long way in further fostering the bonds of goodwill, bonhomie and friendship between the people of France and Punjab. On the occasion, Claude Maniscalco, Director Saint-Tropez Tourism informed the Chief Minister that Saint-Tropez was of very prominent tourist’s destination world over where nearly 6.5 million tourists visit this place every year.Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said that it was a sheer honour for Punjab to get a white marbled statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh installed at Saint-Tropez next year which would go a long way in further strengthening the bilateral relations between India and France and especially Punjab due to Gen. Allard’s outstanding contribution in the army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He also accepted the invitation to unveil the statue on its inauguration ceremony at Saint-Tropez. The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Special Principal Secretary Mr. K.J.S. Cheema.