Blaming the previous SAD-BJP Government for its failure to protect heritage of the martyrs, Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday announced that the memorial as well as the museum on the name of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh would be completed by March 23, next year — on his martyrdom day.
Directions have been issued to the department in this regard, said Sidhu while interacting with mediapersons on the sidelines of his special visit to the martyr’s ancestral village—Khatkar Kalan, along with senior officials.
Sidhu took serious note of the work related to the memorial and museum pending since eight years at Khatkar Kalan after taking stock of the project.
“The martyrs are an inspiration to the people of the nation but it is very unfortunate that the previous regime faltered in its duty to protect the heritage of the martyrs,” he said adding that the work pertaining to the memorial and museum was started in 2009 during the tenure of previous Government and it was to be completed by 2011 but it is still incomplete even after six years of the deadline fixed.
Sidhu assured after consulting the state Tourism and Cultural Affairs director Shivdular Singh Dhillon, on the spot, that this project would now be under his personal supervision and would be dedicated to the country by March 23, 2018. He also assured that no dearth of funds would be allowed to become a stumbling block with regard to the project.
Earlier, the Minister paid floral tributes at the statues of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev and at the memorial of Bhagat Singh’s father Kishan Singh at Khatkar Kalan. He also visited the old museum and the new one being constructed.
Visiting martyr’s ancestral house, Sidhu very keenly saw the articles connected with the martyr and also paid a visit to the park adjoining the house. He described Shaheed-e-Azam as his biggest inspiration and vowed to follow the path illuminated by the martyr while writing in the visitor’s book at the memorial and the museum.
Sidhu disclosed he was greatly influenced by Shaheed Bhagat Singh since his childhood and his mother used to recite stories about Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh and his uncle Ajit Singh to inspire him which explains why he paid homage to the martyrs’ memorial at Hussainiwala after becoming minister and now at Khatkar Kalan.
On being asked by the media about the non-payment of the electricity bill of the ancestral house of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and the park adjoining it, the Minister decided to pay the bill on the spot from his own pocket and immediately signed a cheque of Rs 2.50 lakh in name of PSPCl from his personal account and handed it over to the Deputy Commissioner Sonali Giri.
He also elaborated that keeping in view the facilitation of the tourists, he would take up the matter of starting special buses for Khatkar Kalan and stoppage of long route buses at the village with the department concerned.
He also added that he would make a permanent arrangement concerning approach road to the newly coming up memorial and museum, park, ensuring cleanliness and maintenance of memorial and paying electricity bills so as to not let any problems occur in future.
Regarding the development centric works in the cities, Sidhu said that after approval in the municipal corporations, the modified estimates would be prepared of the municipal councils in the State and the grants would be released soon.
Sidhu said a Tourism Policy is being prepared by the Department with an intent to develop the historical places connected with the martyrs as tourist spots. Under the proposed tourist circuits, the places having links with the martyrs would be connected which would be beneficial for the tourists from country and abroad, he said. He added that Shaheed Bhagat Singh was an institution who would continue to inspire generation after generation.