Punjab Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney seeks Bharat Ratna for Bhagat Puran Singh
The MP recalled that Puran Singh was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1981, but he returned the award following the Indian Army’s operation at Golden Temple
Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab Vikramjit Singh Sahney on Wednesday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging the government to confer the Bharat Ratna on philanthropist Bhagat Puran Singh of the Pingalwara movement, posthumously.
“Bhagat Puran Singh ji was a great environmentalist and philanthropist, and the founder of Pingalwara, a home for the sick and disabled set up in 1947. Bhagat Puran Singh had no permanent home and spent his entire lifetime caring for the poor, destitute and disabled. He also worked for the environment by organising tree plantation drives and writing books and pamphlets on pressing environmental issues,” Sahney said in the letter to Shah.
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The MP recalled that Puran Singh was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1981, but he returned the award following the Indian Army’s operation at Golden Temple.
“Pingalwara is a home for destitutes where all disabled and neglected people are provided shelter. Children, widows and elderly people find a family atmosphere and a feeling of love during the most difficult moments of their lives,” Sahney said.
He added that it would be most befitting to confer the Bharat Ratna posthumously on Bhagat Puran Singh.
