Sidhu visits Bhagat Singh's ancestral village to take stock of

Taking note of the reports of delay in the completion of the memorial of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and a museum named after him, Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu today paid a visit to Khatkar Kalan to take stock of the progress of the twin projects.

Khatkar Kalan in Nawanshahr district is the ancestral village of Bhagat Singh.

After inspecting the projects and holding discussions with Director, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Shivdular Singh Dhillon, Sidhu said both the projects would be completed by March 23 (the day 23-year-old Bhagat Singh was hanged by the British government in 1931) next year.
 

Dhillon would personally supervise the progress of the projects, he added.

Interacting with reporters, the tourism and cultural affairs minister said a tourism policy was being prepared by his department with an intent to develop the places connected to the freedom fighters of the state as tourist attractions.

He described Bhagat Singh as an institution in himself who would continue to inspire generation after generation of Indians.

The cricketer-turned-politician said he was greatly influenced by the freedom fighter since his childhood as his mother used to tell him stories about Bhagat Singh.

Asked about the non-payment of the electricity bill of the freedom fighter's ancestral house and the adjoining park, Sidhu wrote a cheque of Rs 2.5 lakh in favour of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited from his personal account and handed it over to Deputy Commissioner Sonali Giri.

The minister also said he would take up the issue of launching a special bus service for Khatkar Kalan and stoppage of buses on longer routes at the village with the department concerned.

He promised to make a "permanent arrangement" as regards an approach road for the proposed memorial and museum, park etc., besides ensuring their cleanliness and maintenance, including payment of electricity bills.

Earlier, the minister paid floral tributes at the statue of Bhagat Singh and the memorial of the freedom fighter's father, Kishan Singh here.

At the ancestral house of Bhagat Singh, he keenly saw the articles associated with the freedom fighter and also paid a visit to the park adjoining it.

Sidhu described Bhagat Singh as his "biggest inspiration" and vowed to follow the path shown by him, while writing a few words in the visitor's book at the museum.