CM pays tribute to martyrs on 124th Saragarhi battle anniv

Our Correspondent

Ferozepur, September 12

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today paid tribute to the 22 Sikh soldiers of the historic Battle of Saragarhi on its 124th anniversary at a state-level event organised here.

Though the CM could not make it to the event physically as he claimed that his chopper could not take-off due to rain and inclement weather, he joined the event virtually. Cabinet Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, MLA Parminder Singh Pinki, senior Army and civil officials were present on the occasion. Earlier, Saragarhi Martyrs’ Memorial Trust chairman Brig Vignesh Mahanty Chairman welcomed all of them at Gurdwara Sargarhi.

The CM in his online address recalled the valour of the 22 soldiers of the 36th Sikh Regiment stationed near Samana Ridge (now in North West Frontier Province, Pakistan) who laid down their lives fighting 10,000 Afridis on September 12, 1897.

The CM said the blueprint of the Saragarhi War Memorial was being finalised and it was a matter of pride that a statue of Havaldar Ishar Singh was being unveiled in Wolverhampton (UK).

Cabinet Minister Sodhi said the martyrdom of these soldiers was recognised all over the world, with even Queen Victoria acknowledging the same by bestowing the highest gallantry award — Indian Order of Merit — to these martyrs. The minister while releasing a brochure on Saragarhi prepared by Advocate Harpreet Singh Sandhu said that the sacrifices of these soldiers would be remembered by one and all forever.