Protest mars Jang-e-Azadi opening

Deepkamal Kaur

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Tribune News Service

Kartarpur, November 6

The much-hyped opening of the Jang-e-Azadi memorial at Kartarpur today was marred by protests by the family members of around 400 freedom fighters.

They rued that they were invited to the function with a promise of fulfilment of their demands, but no such announcement was made by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

As soon as the CM’s speech got over and the function came to an end, the freedom fighters’ relatives raised anti-Badal slogans. They said none of their demands, including pension scheme for the wards of the freedom fighters in line with the neighbouring states, bus passes and waiving toll tax, was fulfilled despite repeated requests.

The protest came as an embarrassment for the government as well as the local administration. None of the SAD-BJP leaders came to pacify the protesters who had come from all across the state.

Harinder Singh Khalsa, president, Association of Freedom Fighters, said: “There is no point in spending hundreds of crores of rupees on memorials in the name of freedom fighters when the government has completely ignored the genuine demands of their families.”

Vijay Rani from Phagwara, daughter of freedom fighter Prem Nath, said: “We had not come here just to accept shawls from Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal. We were invited and insulted by the government.”

Ravinder Kapoor from Ludhiana, son of Khairati Lal, said: “Despite bus passes issued to us by the government, we are being charged penal bus fare by the Punjab Roadways.”

Separate arrangement was made for the lunch of freedom fighters’ families, but they refused to take food. The police even tried to stop them from leaving the venue without having lunch, but they refused to budge and were finally allowed to leave.

After inaugurating the memorial, the Chief Minister honoured noted film director Shyam Benegal and architect of the project Raj Rewal.

Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal said the Punjabis suffered maximum losses during the freedom movement as compared to people from other states.