Punjab to set up war hero memorial at Amritsar
The Punjab government has decided to set up a state-of-the-art war heroes' memorial at Amritsar, for which a concept committee would be constituted soon. An announcement to this effect was made by Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal during the Triennial National Convention-cum-Reunion (TNC) organised by the War Decorated India (WDI) here on Sunday.
The Punjab government has decided to set up a state-of-the-art war heroes' memorial at Amritsar, for which a concept committee would be constituted soon.
An announcement to this effect was made by Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal during the Triennial National Convention-cum-Reunion (TNC) organised by the War Decorated India (WDI) here on Sunday.
Addressing the gathering, Badal said the SAD-BJP government was committed to the welfare of serving defence personnel and ex-servicemen because he believed that persons who had rendered exemplary services and even sacrificed their lives to safeguard the interests of the nation must be repaid by the government in a better way.
The government is duty-bound to take care of veterans and 'veer naris' across the country, especially those soldiers who had been honoured with top gallantry awards such as Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra, he added.
The upcoming war memorial would be a tribute to brave sons of the soil for their unmatched valour in various battles, said Badal, adding that he had asked the chiefs of the army, navy and air force to provide vital inputs.
Badal stated that to perpetuate the rich legacy of countless freedom fighters, patriots and martyrs from Punjab during the Independence movement, the state government had already working on a plan to set up a world-class 'Jang-e-Azaadi' memorial at Kartarpur, near Jalandhar.
The chief minister also announced that the state government would soon made adequate enhancement in the allowances for gallantry awardees.
Expressing concern over the reducing number of Punjabis in the defence services, Badal said the recruitment policy on the basis of population, adopted by the central government, was not justified in case of Punjab.
On the occasion, the chief minister honored gallantry awardees, 'veer naris' and next of kin of posthumous awardees, along with Param Vir Chakra awardees Hony Capt Bana Singh and Hav Sanjay Kumar, and announced a grant of Rs 50 lakh for the WDI, besides free education for grandsons of Sepoy Babu Singh, a Vir Chakra awardee.