Twenty-one years after a ‘human bomb’ assassinated the then Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, Punjab Congress on Wednesday observed his martyrdom day. On the other hand, the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) observed the death anniversary of his assassin. A solemn and impressive function was organised at Beant Singh’s memorial. A sarv dharam prarthna sabha (prayer meeting of all religions) was also organised on the occasion.
The day was commemorated as Balidan Divas, wherein a large number of people paid floral tributes to the former chief minister at his Shaheedi Samarak.
A galaxy of senior leaders of Congress party, led by national secretary in-charge Harish Chaudhary, Congress legislature Party (ClP) leader Charanjit Singh Channi and other senior functionaries of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee including leaders of different frontal organizations of the Punjab Congress, district presidents and representatives of various social organizations, besides family members of the late leader, were present on the occasion.
The state Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh was conspicuous by his absence.
Those present on the occasion recalled Beant Singh’s services in restoring peace to the trouble torn state of Punjab during the turbulent period of militancy, they recalled how the late leader sacrificed his life at the altar of peace.
It needs to be mentioned that Beant Singh maintained a regular rapport with the political workers at the grass root level, particularly the Congressmen. All the family members of Beant Singh, led by his son and former minister Tej Parkash Singh, daughter and former minister Gurkanwal Kaur, grandsons MlA Gurkirat Singh, and MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, Guriqbal Singh pledged to work for the implementation of the programmes initiated by the late leader and also strived to keep aloft his high moral values in public life.
In Amritsar, the SGPC observed the death anniversary of human bomb Dilawar Singh who had assassinated Beant Singh in 1995 at Akal Takht in the Golden Temple complex.
To avoid congregation of the people, the SGPC preponed the programme by about more than an hour. Even the family members of Dilawar managed to reach towards the end of the programme, one member of the family was honoured with siropa (robe of honour).