Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday claimed that the SAD-BJP alliance Government in the State was following the footsteps of Maharaja Ranjit Singh to ensure the well-being of every strata of society.
Badal, during a ceremony to gift the bust of Maharaja Ranjit Singh which is to be installed at French city of Saint Tropez to Deputy Mayor of Saint Tropez Henri Allard, said that Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a great emperor who practiced the ethos of secularism and socialism in right earnest as propagated by our great Sikh gurus.
“As an ardent Sikh, Maharaja Ranjit Singh ensured the welfare of all his subjects and even toured the state in disguise during night to feel the pulse of his subjects,” said Badal adding that following his footsteps, the State Government has initiated a number of pro-people schemes for welfare of every strata of society.
Badal said that due to his love and affection towards people, Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a true monarch of masses.
Thanking the France Government and authorities of French tourist city Saint Tropez for their decision to install bust of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Badal said that it would further strengthen the ties between India and France.
Recalling the historic bond between both the countries, especially between Punjab and France, he said that great Sikh emperor Maharaja Ranjit Singh had chosen French warrior General Jean Franquis Allard to modernise his army to check the expansion of British Raj.
General Allard proved to be top general of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in due course of history and the Britishers were not able to annex Punjab till both of them were alive, he said.
Badal said that for the first time, steps have been taken by State Government to preserve rich cultural heritage of Punjab by construction of State of the art memorials like Virasat-e-Khalsa, Chappar Chiri War memorial.