2-acre memorial to late CM coming up at Badal village

Preparations are in full swing at Badal village for the inauguration of a memorial dedicated to late Chief Minister (CM) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patriarch Parkash Singh Badal on his birth anniversary on December 8.

Badal, a five-time CM, had passed away on April 25, 2023.

The memorial is coming up on nearly 2 acres of the Badal family’s kinnow orchard, located adjacent to the Civil Hospital on the Bathinda-Kheowali Road, where the veteran leader was cremated.

Construction workers are currently racing against time to raise a red Dhaulpur stone platform, while landscaping and other works are also in progress. The boundary wall and entrance gate have already been completed.

A bronze statue – slightly larger than life-size – is set to be the centre-piece of the memorial. The sculpture is being crafted by Chandigarh-based artist Gurpreet Dhuri, known for his acclaimed prosthetic and sculpting work. Dhuri said the model of the statue had been finalised and the casting would now take place in Delhi.

Sources close to the family said efforts were being made to make the memorial functional by the birth anniversary, though some landscaping work might continue later. “The family observes both the birth and death anniversaries of Badal Sahib every year. A religious ceremony will follow this year’s event as well. Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal is overseeing the work,” said sources.

Last year, the family kept the birth anniversary a low-key affair as SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal was performing religious punishment at Fatehgarh Sahib after being declared guilty of religious misconduct, including pardoning Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015.

In 2023, the day was observed as “Sadbhavana Divas”, marked by blood donation camps across all 117 Assembly constituencies.