Master Tara Singh remembered

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 24

A state-level function to celebrate the birth anniversary of veteran Akali leader Master Tara Singh was organised here today. Dr Charanjit Singh Atwal, speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, and Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, Punjab Education Minister, were the chief guests on the occasion.

The function was organised jointly by the Punjab Government and Panth Rattan Shriman Master Tara Singh Yaadgari Trust.

Speaking on the occasion, Atwal credited Master Tara Singh with shaping the destiny of the Sikhs during the partition of the country in 1947. He said Master Tara Singh was the only leader who brought up the panthic agenda at the national level and forced the government to include Sikhs as the third party in negotiations during the pre-partition period.

He added that Master Tara Singh was the leader who played an important role for the inclusion of Sikhs in Scheduled Castes. Atwal said Tara Singh always worked above personal gains and kept the party before his personal life. He thanked the Punjab Government and former Minister Jathedar Hira Singh Gabria for choosing Ludhiana for organising this state-level function.

Meanwhile, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said he salutes the contribution of Master Tara Singh for the Sikh panth as well as Shiromani Akali Dal.

Dr Cheema added that it was only during the tenure of SAD-BJP-led government that birth anniversaries of prominent personalities were being celebrated.

He said even memorials were being set up in the state, but the Congress-led governments never focused on constructing memorials in the memory of Sikh leaders.

Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee member and Granddaughter of Master Tara Singh, Bibi Kiranjot Kaur said either the Punjab Government should construct a memorial of Master Tara Singh in the state or it should rename a prominent institution on his name.

Several prominent personalities were also honoured on the occasion.