Bhikhiwind (Tarn Taran), May 11, 2013: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that had the Congress led UPA government at the centre acted timely and diligently then the precious life of the martyr Sarabjit Singh could have been saved.
Addressing a mammoth gathering here to pay homage to the martyr Sarabjit Singh at his bhog ceremony, the Chief Minister said that the state assembly had passed resolutions four times and send it to the Centre urging them to take prompt action for ensuring the early release of the martyr Sarabjit Singh from Pakistan jail but the Union government had not taken the matter seriously. However he said that the entire country in general and the Punjab government in particular was with the family of the martyr Sarabjit Singh in this hour of crisis.
Badal while handing over the cheque of Rs 1 crore to Shaheed Sarabjit’s family said that the state government was committed for their well being.
The Chief Minister categorically said that the martyr Sarabjit Singh was a national martyr, who had suffered endless agonies in the Pakistani jail for being an Indian. He also announced that the elder daughter of the martyr Sarabjit Singh would be recruited as Naib Tehsildar in the state government whereas the younger daughter would be given the post of teacher adding that the Cabinet clearance for both these posts would be given by the Council of Ministers in the very next meeting. He said that lending a helping hand to the family of the martyr Sarabjit Singh was the moral duty of the state government.
Acclaiming the efforts made by the family of the martyr Sarabjit Singh to get him released from the Pakistani Jail, the Chief Minister said that due to their concerted efforts the entire country had prayed for the release of the martyr Sarabjit Singh who had spent more than 23 years in Pakistan jail. Showering praise on the martyr Sarabjit Singh’s sister Dalbeer Kaur for her pledge to secure the release of other prisoners lodged in Pakistan Jail, Badal said that the state government would extend wholehearted support and co-operation to her in this noble cause.
Addressing the gathering Revenue and Information and Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, while sharing his heartfelt condolences with the family said that the state government would extend all sort of support and co-operation to them whenever needed by them. Majithia lauded the efforts of the martyr Sarabjit Singh’s sister Dalbeer Kaur in launching a massive nationwide campaign by mobilising people’s opinion to mount pressure on the national governments of India and Pakistan for seeking clemency for him, who was on death row adding he said that we should make concerted efforts to secure the release of innocent Indians lodged in various jails across the Pakistan.
Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Cabinet Ministers Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, Chunni Lal Bhagat and Gulzar Singh Ranike, Chief Parlimentray Secretary Virsa Singh Valtoha, Member Parliament Dr Rattan Singh Ajnala and State BJP Chief Kamal Sharma.