Miffed over delay in setting up museum dedicated to Shaheed Bhagat Singh in Ferozepur, Naujawan Bharat Sabha to stage dharna

Ferozepur, September 2

Upset over an inordinate delay in setting up a museum dedicated to Shaheed Bhagat Singh at a double-storey building in Ferozepur city, members of the Naujawan Bharat Sabha (NBS) have announced to sit on an indefinite dharna outside the District Administrative Complex from September 26, two days ahead of the 117th birth anniversary of the freedom fighter.

Protected monument

• In December 2015, the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs had declared this building as a “protected monument” under the Punjab Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act, 1964

The double-storey building in Toori Bazaar is believed to be a secret hideout of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and his companions belonging to the Krantikari Party.

“This double-storey building is like a temple for us. At this place, Shaheed Bhagat Singh and his comrades made strategies to gain freedom from the Britishers,” said Manga Singh, general secretary, NBS.

“We have been asking to convert this building into a museum for the past several years. Besides, the government must set up a library here so that people, especially the younger generation gets inspiration from the freedom fighters,” he said. However, all our pleas had fallen on deaf ears, added Manga.

“Two days ago, a delegation of the NBS met Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Dhiman in this regard. As we haven’t received any satisfactory reply from the state government, we have decided to sit on a dharna,” he said.

NBS member Naunihal Singh said they would also organise “nukkad nataks” (street plays) to ensure maximum participation of youngsters in the protest.

Last year, several members of the NBS had broken locks of this double-storey building and removed all material from the shop situated on the ground floor following which an FIR was lodged against them.

In December 2015, the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs had declared this building as a “protected monument” under the Punjab Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act, 1964, after locals fought a legal battle over a period of seven decades.