Beant Singh remembered on death anniv

MOHALI/AMRITSAR: The 25th death anniversary of the12th chief minister of Punjab, Beant Singh, was marked with floral tributes and a two-minute silence at his memorial at Sector 42,Chandigarh.

The annual sarab dharam sammelan (gathering of people from all religions) to mark the day was not organised due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Cabinet minister Balbir Singh Sidhu paid homage to the late chief minister on behalf of the CM, Capt Amarinder Singh, who is currently under home quarantine. Recalling Beant Singh’s sacrifice for Punjab and its people, Sidhu said that. “His contribution to peace and harmony in the state would forever remain etched in the hearts and minds of the people”. His assassination was a dark day in the state’s history, but his sacrifice paved the way for freedom from terrorism, Sidhu added.

Gurkirat Singh Kotli, Khanna MLA, said Beant Singh sacrificed his life for the restoration of

peace and communal harmony in Punjab and his family would remain steadfast to the cause. He said under Amarinder Singh, sustained development of the state would be ushered along with peace and harmony.

Others present included Ravneet Singh Bittu , MP, and MLAs from Bassi Pathana and Payal. Beant Singh was assassinated in a bomb blast on August 31, 1995.

Pro-Khalistan slogans raised at Takht event Even as Punjab Police has launched a crackdown on those behind the Khalistan Referendum drive in the state, ‘Khalistan-Zindabad’ slogans were raised at the function that the Akal Takht held to mark the death anniversary of Dilawar Singh. Dilawar was the human bomb who assassinated the then Punjab chief minister Beant Singh on August 31, 1995.

Following ardas and kirtan to commemorate Dilawar, who was declared as ‘qaumi shahid’ (martyr of the community) in 2012, his kin and Sukhwinder Singh Agwan, kin of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassin Satwant Singh, were presented ‘siropas’ (robe of honour).

His contribution to peace in the state will forever remain etched in the hearts and minds of the people.

BALBIR SIDHU, minister