Work on the memorial dedicated to the memory of Mata Gujri and Chhote Sahibzadas will begin soon.

Morinda:The Tourism Department of Punjab has constructed a memorial in the memory of Mata Gujri Ji, Chhote Sahibzade Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh at village Saheri on Rupnagar Morinda Road on the lines of Dastan-e-Shahadat Shri Chamkaur. The government hopes to start work on the second phase soon at a cost of about Rs 3 crore, while the work on the first phase has been completed.

Speaking to Punjabi Jagran, Halka MLA Dr. Charanjit Singh said that the Tourism Department of Punjab is trying to give a new look to the incomplete martyrdom memorial in village Saheri. He said that according to Dastan-e-Shahadat Shri Chamkaur Sahib, work is underway on a proposal of Rs 3 crore for a martyrdom memorial and it is expected that the work will start soon. MLA Charanjit Singh said that the previous governments did not pay any attention to the construction of this memorial, whereas after the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party government, they continuously contacted the Tourism Department and tried to get the work of the memorial started and completed. “I am grateful to God that I got the opportunity to serve the people of this holy land,” he said.

It is noteworthy that the work on this memorial started on 21 December 2006 during the Congress government, but even after more than 18 years, it could not be completed. Shiromani Akali Dal, also known as Panthak Party, ran the government from 2007 to 2017, but there was no progress during this period either. Jagmohan Singh Kang, MLA and cabinet minister during the Congress government, laid the foundation stone of the memorial on 26 December 2004, and in 2006, the then Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh inaugurated it upon completion of its first phase.

“Better late than never”: Kang

Former cabinet minister Jagmohan Singh Kang said “better late than never” and expressed satisfaction over the government’s awareness. He told that the work of the memorial was started in the year 2006 during the Congress government in the memory of Chhote Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh, Baba Fateh Singh and Mata Gujri Ji. The then Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh also inaugurated the first phase of the memorial. He said that the land of Rupnagar district is stained with the blood of martyrs.