Villagers: Install equestrian statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, January 31

With the election of ruling Congress-supported panchayat, historic village Badrukhan residents hope that their village will get a metal statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh riding a horse.

The standing statue of Maharaja, made of fibreglass, has been eating dust at the house of former sarpanch of the village for the last two years and four months as residents had refused to install it.

“The mother of Maharaja Ranjit Singh belonged to our village and his birth also took here in the village fort. Two years back, the then SAD-BJP government sent a standing statue of Maharaja, but our villagers want a horse-riding statue. I have taken up the matter with Punjab Cabinet minister Vijay Inder Singla,” said Kuleet Singh Toor, sarpanch of the village.

Some residents said former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had announced to install the statue of Maharaja around 20 years back, but despite the formation of the SAD-BJP government twice after that he failed to get the statue installed. Two years back when the statue was sent, it was not as per the expectations of residents.

“After receiving the statue we had immediately informed the then Punjab government about the unwillingness of residents to install it. Though the government sent its team to take back the statue, but we had refused to give it back without getting a new one,” said Randeep Singh, son of former sarpanch Harbans Kaur.

When contacted, Punjab Cabinet minister Vijay Inder Singla said the matter was in his knowledge and he had formed a committee of officers.

“We will get a metal statue of Maharaja riding a horse installed in the village as per the wishes of residents. I have formed a committee of officers, who are working on the issue,” said Singla.