Chandigarh/Ludhiana, May 15:
Harjot Singh Bains, Cabinet Minister for Tourism & Culture, Mines & Geology, Law & Legislative Affairs and Jails Punjab today said that the Aam Aadmi Party government is committed for preserving the legacy of freedom fighters and our martyrs, due to whose sacrifices we are living in a free society.
He said this while attending the state level function organised on the birth anniversary of Shaheed Sukhdev, at Guru Nanak Dev Bhawan, here today.
He was also accompanied by MLAs Sarvjit Kaur Manuke, Ashok Prashar Pappi, Kulwant Singh Sidhu, Daljit Singh Grewal, Madan Lal Bagga, Rajinderpal Kaur Chhina, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, Manwinder Singh Giaspura, Jeevan Singh Sangowal, Hardeep Singh Mundian, Hakam Singh Thekedar, Senior AAP leaders Dr KNS Kang, Amandeep Singh Mohi, Ahbaab Singh Grewal, Gurjit Singh Gill, Dupinder Singh, District President (Urban) Suresh Goyal, District President (Rural) Harbhupinder Singh Dharaur, besides several others.
Harjot Singh Bains said that Shaheed Sukhdev was a famous Indian revolutionary who played a major role in the India’s struggle for Independence.
While speaking on the occasion, he said that Shaheed Sukhdev is amongst those great Indian freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of our country. He was born on 15th May, 1907 at his ancestral house in Naughara Mohalla of Ludhiana city.
Since his childhood days, Shaheed Sukhdev had witnessed the brutal atrocities that the Imperial British Raj had inflicted on India, which then led him to join the revolutionaries, vowing to set India free from the shackles of British dominion. Shaheed Sukhdev was a member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), and organised revolutionary cells in Punjab and other areas of India.
A devoted leader, he even went on to ensure education for the youth at the National College in Lahore, greatly inspiring them about India’s glorious past. This college was set up by freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai. He along with other renowned revolutionaries started the ‘Naujawan Bharat Sabha’ at Lahore that was an organisation involved in various activities, mainly gearing the youth for the freedom struggle and putting an end to communalism.
He called upon the people to come forward and eradicate social evils like corruption, drug abuse, female foeticide and illiteracy from society, which would be the “real tribute to the country’s martyrs and fulfill their dreams.
Paying tribute to Shaheed Sukhdev, Harjot Singh Bains said that the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government has chalked out programmes so that our young generation can seek inspiration from our great freedom fighters. These functions are being organised to promote national integration and instill patriotism among the people. The families of the martyrs are a treasure to the country and we must pay proper respect to them.
He said that even the ancestral houses of all martyrs are like religious places and people should visit them for paying obeisance. He said that the Punjab government would soon bring ancestral houses of all freedom fighters and prominent personalities on the tourist map.
Dr Manju Malhotra, who presented a brief note on Shaheed Sukhdev said that he was the associate of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Shaheed Rajguru. She said that it was on 23rd March, 1931 that the three brave revolutionaries, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were hanged. She said that Shaheed Sukhdev was just 24 years old when he became a martyr for his country, however, he will always be remembered for his courage, patriotism and sacrifice of his life for India’s independence.
Students from Ishmeet Singh Music Institute also performed songs of national integration on the occasion.
Earlier, the Cabinet Minister paid tribute to the great martyr by visiting the ancestral house of Shaheed Sukhdev in Mohalla Naughara. He also took part in the Havan ceremony being organised by the managing committee.
A contingent of Police Commissionerate Ludhiana also gave guard of honour to the Cabinet Minister.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik, Commissioner of Police Dr Kaustubh Sharma, ADC Amarjit Bains, SDMs Gurbir Singh Kohli and Gursimran Singh Dhillon, besides several others.
