The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Wednesday, November 14, 2001, Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

M A I N N E W S

Defence varsity to be set up in Punjab
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 13
Describing Punjab as sword arm of the country, Mr George Fernandes, Defence Minister, indicated that the third defence university of the world would be set up in the state after Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Defence Minister George Fernandes, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Punjab Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh and Mr Balwinder Singh Bhadur, a Rajya Sabha member, wave to the crowds at the beginning of the procession. — Photo by Rajiv Sharma

This would be first university of its kind in the country and third in the world after the USA and China. On the demand of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Mr Fernandes said Punjab being the first line of defence deserved such a university where youths from other countries could get training.

Mr Fernandes who was addressing a moderate gathering on the bicentenary celebrations of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s coronation said a team of Defence Ministry officials had already visited the defence university in the USA and was now undertaking a tour of China. The team was expected to reach India within a week and the feasibility report in this regard would be studied by the Cabinet Committee and Security Council. He thanked Mr Badal for promising to give adequate land free of cost for opening the university. He also agreed to Mr Badal’s suggestion that the proposed university should be named after Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Without elaborating, Mr George Fernandes said: “We are not that vigilant and conscious about our defence.” He indicated that there was a need to streamline the defence of the country especially at this crucial juncture. He said the legendry Maharaja had succeeded in conquering Lahore at the age of 19 and hence there was need to learn a lot from his experiences. He, however, said the defence forces were vigilant and ready to meet any eventuality.

Paying tributes, Mr Fernandes said the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh was based on true secularism. He said the Maharaja was still relevant when one talked about national integration and communal harmony.

Addressing the function Mr Parkash Singh Badal said keeping in view of the contribution of Punjab during the freedom struggle and various wars against neighbouring countries, including the Kargil conflict, the site of the proposed defence university ought to be in this border state. He said Punjabis were ready to make supreme sacrifices for the sake of country. He said though the ‘Khalsa rule’ of Maharaja Ranjit Singh included Afghanistan (which is now being considered as invincible), Pakistan, Leh Ladakh etc yet he never sat on throne.

In another significant statement, Mr K.C. Pant, Vice Chairman Planning Commission, offered an amicable solution to the Kashmir problem he said the Kashmiris should learn a lesson from the doublespeak of Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf, on Taliban issue. He said doors for a dialogue with Kashmiris, without any pre-conditions were open. He said the secular fabric of the country had to be maintained and there was a need to identify the traitors.

Earlier, the six-day-long ceremonies began with ‘ardas’ (prayer) at Akal Takht, performed by Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti. Though Mr Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister and co-ordinator of the celebrations had claimed that more than two lakh devotees would participate in the 2-km long procession yet the attendance was much less. The celebrations got off on a poor note as the organisers failed to mobilise local residents. Their participation in the functions was negligible.

Performing ‘ardas’, Jathedar Vedanti prayed that the sixth Guru had blessed the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal and state government to organise the bicentenary celebrations of Maharaja’s coronation. He prayed for the high spirits of the entire Panth and the success of the ceremonies.