Dhanaula, March 16
In an impressive show of her ability to mobilise masses, Agriculture Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal today promised to get martyrs and freedom fighters their due after felicitating kin of 15 national heroes at a "shradhanjali samaroh" here this afternoon.

Though the function was organised under the aegis of Desh Bhagat Baba Hira Singh Bhattal and Harnam Kaur Memorial Trust, Mrs Bhattal was successful in bringing together past and present Congress leadership of the state. Mrs Mohsina Kidwai, AICC General Secretary, was the chief guest. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was conspicuous by his absence. The Food and Supplies Minister, Mr Avtar Henry, deputed for the Chief Minister.

Though many of the MLAs and ministers were not seen at the function, their supporters turned up in large numbers. This was evident from the large number of motor vehicles with banners of their leaders. Perhaps Mrs Bhattal was successful in conveying the message to the party high command.

Mrs Kidwai, who was accompanied by the PPCC chief, Mr H.S. Hanspal, and Mr Henry, while complimenting Mrs Bhattal for organising an “impressive shradhanjali samaroh”, said though the country won freedom in 1947, some fundamentalist forces were threatening the integrity of the country.

A large number of Congress leaders from the Malwa belt, including former PPCC chief, Mr Varinder Kataria, Mr Raj Khurana, Mr Brahm Mohindra, Mr H.S. Sidhu, Mr Gulzar Singh, Mr Surinder Kapoor and Mr Brij Lal Goel actively participated in the function. Former PPCC chief Santokh Singh Randhawa, Mr Raghunandan Lal Bhatia, and Speaker Dr Kewal Krishan paid tributes to Baba Hira Singh Bhattal and Mrs Harnam Kaur.

Mrs Bhattal said invitations were sent by way of newspaper advertisements to the kin of those who made the supreme sacrifice for the country. Though there was a huge banner with portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Beant Singh, Joginder Paul Pandey, Darshan Singh Kaypee, Bhagwan Dass and Jagat Ram painted on them, no figure belonging to other parties was portrayed.

Among those felicitated today were Mr Kultar Singh, a brother of Bhagat Singh, sister of Kartar Singh Sarabha, Bibi Jaswant Kaur, widow of Beant Singh, Mr Rakesh Pandey (son of Joginder Paul Pandey); Mr Goel (son of Bhagwan Dass), Mr Muni Lal Mehtab and Mr Mansa Ram; Ms Shivinder Kaur (daughter of Sardar Bhagwan Singh Longowalia), Ms Gursewak Kaur, Mr Surinder Kapoor, Mr Varinder Kataria, Mr Santokh Singh Randhawa, Mr Joginder Singh (son of Giani Zail Singh) and Dr Joginder Dyal (CPI).

The family of Shaheed Sewa Singh Thikriwala was to be honoured at the function but it was decided that the next function of the trust would be held at Thikriwala on March 19. “We will organise a chain of functions under the banner of the trust to ensure that all those who fought in the freedom struggle or fought terrorism are not only felicitated but also given their rightful due, may be in politics or even in jobs or elsewhere,” Mrs Bhattal said.

Dr Joginder Dyal said it was important to safeguard the secular, socialists and democratic of the nation by thwarting communal forces.

Mr R.L. Bhatia cautioned against enemies, both within and outside the country threatening the social and democratic fabric. Mr Hanspal recalled the sacrifices of members of the Gaddar Movement and also of Namdharis, besides paying tributes to Bhagat Singh, Chandrasekhar and others.