The who’s who from the State of Punjab and Haryana and the UT of Chandigarh on Sunday condoled the demise of war hero Marshal Arjan Singh.
Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore, in his condolence message, said Marshal Singh was the longest serving warrior and his outstanding leadership in the Indo-Pak war of 1965 would always be remembered by one and all.
“In the death of Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh, nation has lost the highly decorated soldier always ready to defend the borders,” he said while expressing his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of the brave warrior and prayed to the Almighty to give them strength to bear this enormous loss.
Punjab Chief Minister and a former soldier Capt Amarinder Singh, expressing profound grief over the death of IAF Marshal on Saturday, had declared three-day State mourning as a mark of respect to the gallant officer.
“There would be no official celebrations and the national flag would fly at half-mast in all the government buildings during these three days,” announced an official spokesperson.
Capt Amarinder, in his message, said that Marshal Arjan Singh’s contribution to the nation would forever remain etched in history. “In his death, India has lost a great son of the soil, who always remained at the forefront to defend the country’s borders from the external invasions on the one hand and to uphold the supreme traditions and glory of the armed forces on the other,” he added.
He recalled that Arjan Singh had the distinction of becoming the “only living Five-Star military officer” besides being the first Air Chief Marshal of Air Force when, in recognition of the Air Force’s stellar role in the 1965 war, the rank of the Chief of Air Staff was upgraded to that of Air Chief Marshal.
“Arjan Singh was a proud recipient of Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), awarded in 1944 and Padam Vibhushan in 1965,” he further recalled, saluting the great officer.
Capt Amarinder also lauded Arjan Singh’s outstanding services as Ambassador to various countries, High Commissioner to Kenya, Member of National Minorities Commission and lieutenant Governor of Delhi.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal said that the country had lost a great air warrior who would always be remembered for his outstanding services to the nation.
As a mark of respect to the departed soul, the Haryana Government has also decided that the National Flag will fly half-mast on September 18, the day of funeral in Delhi, on all buildings where it is flown regularly in the state.
Punjab’s former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who was scheduled to meet the party workers in a series of meetings at the party’s head office at Chandigarh, on Sunday announced cancellation of all his programmes in view of the State mourning following Marshal’s demise.
Badal, condoling the demise, said that Arjan Singh would always be known for his exemplary bravery and valour. “I join Punjabis worldwide in paying homage to the great hero of the 1965 war. I also extend my sympathies to the family members of Air Marshal Arjan Singh,” he said.
His son and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal too condoled India’s first Marshal of the Indian Air Force’s demise saying that the country had lost a brave son who had guarded the sovereignty of the nation with utmost bravery and valour.
Expressing his condolences to the family members of Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh, he said that Punjabis worldwide were with them in their moment of grief. “The brave deeds of the Air Marshall in the 1965 war and his role in transforming the Indian Air Force (IAF) into a modern fighting force would always be remembered for all times to come,” he added.
The Punjab IAS Officers’ Association too condoled the demise saying, “We are deeply saddened by the demise of Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh, DFC, A Soldier Numero Uno, a human being par excellence, an embodiment of bravery and righteousness, a true national hero.”
“He shall always remain in our hearts and will always be a source of encouragement, guidance and patriotism,” read the Association’s official statement.
Many leaders also took to the micro-blogging website - Twitter - to condole the demise of veteran soldier.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MlA and the leader of Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha Sukhpal Khaira tweeted, “We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family of war veteran Marshal Arjan Singh ji who did India and Punjab proud by his gallantry”.
Union Minister and SAD MP from Bathinda Harsimrat Kaura Badal too posted a 1:30 minute video to express her “deepest condolences on the demise of India’s first IAF Marshall Arjan Singh”.