Rich tributes paid to Kartar Singh Sarabha

by Punjabnewswire4u

SARABHA (LUDHIANA), NOV 16

          The  Punjab Chief Minister, Mr. Parkash Singh Bada, l today said that he would soon take up the matter with the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to declare Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha as a national martyr. 

            Addressing a gathering after paying floral tributes to the great martyr Kartar Singh Sarabha on his 97^th martrydom anniversary here at his native village, Mr. Badal said that he was taken aback when it was brought to his notice by the Kartar Singh Sarabha Charitable Trust that the GoI had not yet declared Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha as a national martyr.  Mr. Badal said that he would soon write to Prime Minister on this issue and subsequently call on him to get this matter resolved on the highest priority because not only the Punjabis even the countrymen and the people across the globe were well aware about the supreme sacrifice made by this great son of the soil.  He said that the glorious sacrifice of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha was not less than the nation's any other great martyrs like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Udham Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai, henceforth it was not only unjustified but also undesirable to deny the status of national martyr to Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha.

Recalling the supreme sacrifices made by several known and unknown martyrs and heroes, Mr. Badal lauded the unprecedented and unique contribution of Punjabis in the national freedom struggle.    He mentioned that though the Punjabis constituted only 2% of the country’s population but their immense contribution in the freedom struggle could never be ignored because more than 80% of freedom fighters who laid down their lives or imprisoned were Punjabis. He said that it was a matter of great pride and honour that all the prominent movements associated with Independence struggle like Babbar Akali Movement, Kuka Lehar and Ghadar Lehar were sphere headed from Punjab.   Mr. Badal pointed out that our freedom fighters had laid down their lives for the welfare of our countrymen but it was the irony of fate that their aspirations had not yet been cherished because they dreamt of an Independent India free from the maladies of illiteracy, unemployment and starvation.  He lamented that the Centre had miserably failed to realize the dreams of our national heroes even after 65 years of independence. 

To pay a befitting tribute to the Punjabis for their immense contribution in the country's freedom struggle, the Punjab government has decided to set up a world class ‘Jang-e-Azaadi Memorial’ over an area of 25 acre at Kartarpur in Jalandhar district.  This state-of-the-art memorial which would come up within next two years would not only showcase the rich legacy of our great heroes and martyrs who got our motherland free from the shackles of British imperialism but also help in imbibing the spirit of nationalism and patriotism amongst our future generations.  Besides this the SAD-BJP government has also made relentless efforts to enliven our rich historical and cultural legacy  history by constructing rare monuments like Wadda Galughara at Kup Rohiran in Sangrur district, Chhota Galughara at Chamb Kahnuwan in Gurdaspur district and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur War Memorial at Chapar Chiri in Mohali district.  

Responding to the demands raised by the MLA Dakha Mr. Manpreet Singh Ayali, the Chief Minister invited him to come at Chandigarh so that these demands could be fulfilled.  These demands included starting of 10+2 classes in Medical stream to enable the students to seek admission in the local dental college, ayurvedic college and nursing college, to declare 16 November as Gazetted holiday on the martyrdom day of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha and grant of Rs.25 lakh for the pavement of streets and drains etc. 

Later talking to the media persons, the Chief Minister decried the partisan and impartial role of Congress in the recent clash between the members of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) outside Gurdwara Rakabganj in the national Capital.  He said that it was highly deplorable that the Congress was meddling in the religious affairs of the Sikhs despite our repeated assertions to desist them from such politically motivated tactics which were mainly focused to delay the DSGMC elections despite the Supreme Court's orders to ensure that general elections to the post of members of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee were to be completed by December 31, 2012 positively.   He accused the President DSGMC Paramjit Singh Sarna for this pre-planned attack on members of SAD with the support of Congress. 

On the clandestine move of DSGMC to introduce direct elections, Mr. Badal said that there was no such provision either in the apex body of Sikhs i.e. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Amritsar and/or any religious or other body in India. Similarly, even there was no provision for a direct election of
a President in any of the elected constitutional bodies in the country, right from the office of the President of India, the Prime Minister down to the Panchayats.

            Asked to comment on the possibility of revival of terrorism in the state, Mr. Badal categorically said that Punjab was the most peaceful state in the country and there was perfect communal harmony, amity and brotherhood. 

            To another question regarding the autonomy to states, Mr. Badal bemoaned that the Congress led UPA government was gradually encroaching upon the rights of the states thereby eroding the federal structure and paving a way for unitary one, which was not only unconstitutional but also unethical.  He said that the states had to now look upon the Centre for even petty demands like sanctioning of drinking water schemes and link roads.    He blamed the Centre for faulty planning down the line which was reflected in mass unemployment, illiteracy, inflation and corruption.  He said that the Congress had completely ruined the state agriculture due to its discriminatory policies, adding that he mentioned that the prices of agriculture inputs like fertilizers, diesel, seeds etc. were fixed by Centre and even MSP was also determined by them.  He said that state like Punjab, in which nearly 70% people were engaged in agriculture, had been blatantly ignored by the Centre and they have absolutely no say in such matters to safeguard their interests. 

            Prominent amongst others who spoke on the occasion included Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha Mr. Charanjit Singh Attwal, PWD (B&R) Minister Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Chairman SSS Board Mr. Shanta Singh Umedpuri, Mr. Manpreet Singh Ayali, Mr. Darshan Singh Shivalik and Mr. SR Kaler (all MLAs).