The national and Punjab leaders of Congress party on Saturday paid rich tributes to former Chief Minister Beant Singh and observed his 18th death anniversary as National Integration Day at Chandigarh, Jai Ram Ramesh, Union Minister for Rural Development, Shakeel Ahmed General Secretary AICC, Partap Singh Bajwa President PPCC and others paying floral tributes to Beant Singh, assassinated on this day in 1995.
Chandigarh, August 31, 2013: The national and state leaders of Congress party today paid rich tributes to former Chief Minister Beant Singh and observed his 18th death anniversary as National Integration Day.
Jai Ram Ramesh, Union Minister for Rural Development, Shakeel Ahmed General Secretary AICC, Harish Chaudhary Secretary AICC, Bhupinder Singh Hooda Chief Minister Haryana, Partap Singh Bajwa President PPCC, Sunil Jakhar leader of CLP and Jagmeet Singh Brar former member CWC were among those paid floral tributes to Beant Singh, assassinated on this day in 1995.
While addressing the massive public meeting on this occasion Shakeel Ahmed said that sacrifice made by Beant Singh for the peace and integrity of nation had made every Congress leader proud of legacy of the former CM. He said that it was most significant day for the Congress party since AICC President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi had personally asked central party leaders to attend the function. He said that he was upset to know that Punjab Government was not observing any official function to pay tributes to Beant Singh.
Ahmed said that it was time for all Congress leaders of Punjab to work unitedly and aggressively under the leadership of PPCC President Partap Singh Bajwa to realise the dreams of late Beant Singh. He said that AICC has given directions to all Congress leaders to support Bajwa. He also assured Bajwa and CLP leader Mr.Jakhar that Congress high command would fully back them up at all levels.
Shakeel Ahmed said that Congress party had empowered the people of country and listed the achievements of UPA Government. He said that it was under the command of AICC president Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh that Congress party has given ‘Right to Information, Right to Employment, right to Education, Right to Food and now brought the Land Acquisition Act which favors farmers, poor and Dalit of the country.
Jai Ram Ramesh while paying tributes to Beant Singh said that Congress party was indebted to the family of Beant Singh. He further said that the land acquisition Bill passed by Lok Sabha was a revolutionary step in which for the first time the provision of rehabilitation of land owners was made. He said that Congress had changed the 119 year old land acquisition Act which lacked human touch. He said that no land could be acquired without the consent of 80 percent of farmers of the village and amount of compensation would be four times the collector’s rate of land in that area.
Ramesh assured Bajwa that center government would fully support the state Congress and said that he had written a letter to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to take the consent of MP and MLA of concerned constituency before sending list of roads to be constructed under Pardhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna. He told Bajwa to boldly face the challenges from within and outside the party and go ahead with his ideas and ideals.
Bhupinder Singh Hooda remembered the commitment of Beant Singh with people of state. He said that Punjab flourished under his leadership and came out of dark days of terrorism. He said that Punjab was elder brother of Haryana but unfortunately in the last few years Punjab lacked behind in development from Haryana. He announced that he would give ownership rights to farmers who were given Shamlaat land by former CM of united Punjab Partap Singh Kairon. He flayed SAD for failing to support Sikh farmers being displaced by Gujarat Chief Minister Narender Modi.
Harish Chaudhary said that Congress party had a long history of sacrifices. He said that Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Beant Singh had made unparallel sacrifices for the unity and integrity of country. He said that people in Punjab were not happy with the present government of SAD-BJP. He said that Congress party could give better alternative. He said that if there was peace in Punjab its credit goes to Congress party. He said that people of Punjab had high hopes from the present leadership of PPCC. He complimented Bajwa for commendable work.
Others who addressed the memorial meeting included Shamsher Singh Dullo former PPCC President, Mohinder Singh Kay Pee MP, O.P.Soni, Tarlochan Singh Soond, Charanjit Singh Channi PPCC Vice Presidents, Tej Parkash Singh, Ravneet Singh Bittu MP, Gurkirat Singh Kotli and other party MPs and MLAs.
Earlier in the morning the family members of Beant Singh, PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa and Santosh Chaudhary Union Minister of State for health laid wreaths on the ‘samadhi’ of Beant Singh at his memorial in Sector 42 here.