Ferozepore, March 23
In the absence of the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, who could not make it to the shaheedi conference held at National Martyrs Memorial, Hussainiwala, 10 km from the district headquarters, Mr Harnam Dass Johar, Higher Education Minister, along with Dr Harbans Lal, Minister for Forests, paid floral tributes to the heroes of the Indian freedom struggle Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev.
Mr Johar said these three martyrs smilingly embraced the gallows for the cause of motherland. Seventy two years ago on this day, the three martyrs were unceremoniously cremated here on the banks of the Sutlej by the British.
FARIDKOT: The Major Ajaib Singh Social and Educational Society observed the Martyrdom Day of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev by opening a college for women in Jiwanwala village, about 30 km from here, in this district today.
Inaugurating the institution, Dr Harkesh Singh Sidhu, ADC, Faridkot, underlined the need for promoting moral values by introducing a special period.
Mr Sukhchain Singh Brar, Director of the society, said promoting the spirit of nationalism and patriotism among the younger generation would be a real tribute to the three heroes who had sacrificed their lives to make the countrymen free from the clutches of the British rule.
The society is already running a senior secondary school for the past 18 years at Jiwanwala. The toppers of the institution who got distinctions in different fields during the last year were honoured on the occasion.
YAMUNANAGAR: Martyr Bhagat Singh’s diary containing 400 pages wherein the model of India after attaining freedom was recorded will soon find place on the website. This was disclosed by Bhagat Singh’s nephew Abhe Sandhu at a function organised by the Samaj Hitkari Sangathan here on Sunday.
He disclosed that the diary written by Bhagat Singh mentions in detail as to what India should be like after attaining freedom.
Freedom fighters and social worker were honoured at the function.
BATHINDA: Sixty volunteers, including women, who donated blood at a camp here on Sunday said they had done so to pay homage to martyrs Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev and to promote the cause of national service.
Mr Vijay Bhatt, president, United Welfare Society, which organised the camp, said donating blood was the greatest service to humanity and a real homage to those who had fought for the freedom of the country.
SANGRUR: On the martyrdom day of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, the local Parupkari Sabha on Sunday started a free sewing diploma course for girls at the Shiv Mandir dharamsala here.
Mr Jatinder Kalra, chairman of the sabha, said an aid for Rs 100 per woman had been given to 50 widows and poor women. He said Mr Arun Kapil had presented 11 sewing machines in memory of his sister Nisha Kapil to the sabha for running the sewing course.
Tributes were paid to the martyrs and a cultural programme was presented.
DHARAMSALA: At a function organised in Sangam Park on Sunday, convener of Jan Chetna M.P. Singh said a statue of Shaheed Bhagat Singh would soon be installed at the park.
Earlier, freedom fighters Hoshiar Singh, Rattan Singh, Jagat Bahadur, Narain Singh, Babber Singh, Bhuri Singh and Uttam Singh, all belonging to the INA, were honoured.
A cultural programme was also presented by schoolchildren on the occasion.
KHATKAR KALAN: The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, announced the setting up of the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Foundation in the memory of the martyr to propagate his philosophy and carry out his mission to make India a self-reliant and strong nation. He said a chair would be instituted to explore the history and background of the martyrs of Punjab who had made a significant contribution for the freedom of the country.
Addressing a huge gathering on the occasion of the martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh after paying floral tributes at the memorial of the martyrs, Capt Amarinder Singh said there was a need of extensive research on various aspects of the lives and goals of the freedom fighters.
He said the proposed foundation and the chair to be set up in the Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, or Punjabi University, Patiala, would meet the requirements of our researchers and youth interested in knowing about the rich heritage of Punjab. He said that the effort of organising heritage festivals in Doaba, Malwa, and Majha region of Punjab is also one of the steps to ensure a linkage of the past, present and future.
He said he was satisfied to find the various developmental works completed in the village at a cost of Rs 6 crore in a record time of one year and ensuring the completion of the Rs 485-lakh solar photovoltaic power point dedicated by the President of India, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, to the nation on this day. He announced that a stadium and Shaheed-E-Azam Park in memory of Bhagat Singh would be constructed and appealed to the village panchayat to arrange land for this purpose. He said that no fund constraints would be allowed to come in the way of developmental process of the native village of the great son of the soil.
The Chief Minister honoured Mr Kultar Singh, brother of Bhagat Singh, on the occasion.
Meanwhile, the SAD, the Akali Dal (Amritsar), the Lok Bhalai Party, the CPM, the CPI, and the CPML (New Democracy) held conferences in nearby villages of Kahma, Thandian and Jeendowal. The turnout was low owing to the curiosity among the people over the visit of the President.
No senior SAD leader turned up to address the conference organised by the party here as a deputation of the party led by Mr Parkash Singh Badal was scheduled to meet Dr Kalam in Amritsar to seek clemency for Prof Davinderpal Singh Bhullar. Among others, Mr Sarwan Singh Phillaur, a former Welfare Minister, Mr Nand Lal, MLA, Balachaur, Mr Resham Singh Thiara, Mr Mohinder Singh Hussainpuri, Mr Santokh Singh Malla, all SAD leaders, addressed the conference and criticised the Amarinder government for its ‘anti-people’ policies.
Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, while addressing the political conference, said the Lok Bhalai Party would emerge as the third political force in the state as it was committed to organise the ‘un-organised and voiceless section’ of society. He said the party was committed to enrol at least 10 lakh members, including 25,000 students, under its present drive. Famous Punjabi artistes ‘namely Gurpreet Ghughi, Jasvir Jassi, Harbhajan Mann and Bhagwant Mann entertained the gathering.
Mr Balwant Singh, Secretary, state unit of the CPM, Mr Darshan Singh Mattoo, Mr Raghunath Singh, all senior CPM leaders, while addressing the conference condemned the US attack on Iraq and said the freedom struggle launched by Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev against the imperialistic forces was still relevant.
They lamented that the Vajpayee government was ‘hesitating’ to condemn the ‘brutal murder of democracy’ by the USA, which has emerged as the ‘biggest terrorist of the world.’ Similar views were expressed by CPML (New Democracy) leader namely Mr Darshan Singh Khhatkar, Mr Sardara Singh Mahil and Mr Daljit Singh. They said Leftist parties were planning to constitute a common platform to mobilise masses against the ‘terror’ being unleashed by the imperialistic forces, under the guise of combating terrorism. Activists of the All-India Peoples’ Resistance Forum organised a camp to launch a signature movement to mobilise people against the US attack.
