Remembering Bhagat Singh: Punjab CM to skip March 23 event, Manpreet is chief guest

Additional deputy commissioner Shruti Sharma on Monday visited Hussainiwala to take stock of the arrangements. A budget of nearly Rs 2.5 lakh has been sanctioned for this programme. The same amount used to be sanctioned by the Badal government, too, for the function.

The only change, however, is that the CM would be absent. Hussainiwala is a place where martyrs were cremated and hence it became National Martyrs Memorial.

Apart from the martyrs’ memorial, a green belt is also located within the campus where a function is organised every year.

The previous SAD-BJP government had repeatedly announced that the green belt would be beautified along with the renovation of the children’s park on the campus. However, that has not been done yet. New rest rooms have been built on public demand though.

At the maiden function of Congress regime, people are expecting some announcements for the upkeep of the memorial. Sharma said, “All arrangements for the function will be completed by March 21. Like before, free train service will be available from Ferozepur to Hussainiwala on March 23 from 7.30 am to 7 pm.”

Besides, Naujawan Bharat Sabha, an organisation led by youngsters at large, has planned a rally in Turi Bazar on March 23, seeking heritage status of the building which Bhagat Singh had used as his hideout.

“The Sabha will demand that the building be converted into a memorial and museum to tell the future generations about our history,” said Jatinder Singh, state president of the Sabha.