Saragarhi battle: Punjab CM pays tributes to soldiers on 121st anniversary

Ferozepur, Sep 12 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday paid rich tributes to the soldiers of the historic Saragarhi battle on its 121st anniversary and said the state-of-the-art memorial would be built before its next anniversary.

After paying obeisance in Gurdwara Saragarhi during the state-level martyrdom day function, the chief minister went to 'Barki Square' to pay floral tributes to the soldiers who laid down their lives in the 1965 Indo-Pak war.

Addressing the gathering at Saragarhi gurdwara complex, Amarinder Singh spoke about the exemplary valour of the 22 soldiers of the 36 Sikh Regiment of the British Indian Army stationed near Samana ridge (now in Pakistan), who laid down their lives after a fierce battle following an attack by nearly 10,000 Afghans on September 12, 1897.

A model depicting the architecture and layout of the state of the art memorial has been finalized, the chief minister said, adding the Saragarhi Memorial Management Committee under its Chairman Maj Gen J S Sandhu, GOC, 7 Inf Div would oversee the entire construction.

He assured the management committee that his government would extend full support in the execution of the

iconic project as a befitting tribute to the Saragarhi martyrs.

Responding to the demand raised by local MLA Parminder Singh Pinky for establishing Saragarhi Memorial Institute for Competitive Exams in Ferozepur, the chief minister said the state government would take necessary steps after getting the matter thoroughly examined.

He also assured fulfillment of the other demand for setting up Saragarhi Club here.