Memorial for martyr delayed, kin vents ire

PUNE: Almost a year after martyr Saurabh Pharate's family was promised that a memorial would be built in the city to remember his sacrifice for the country, the authorities are dilly-dallying the process and are yet to finalise a location.

The issue came to light when the proposal to build the memorial was raised in Tuesday's standing committee meeting. During this session, it was mentioned that the corporators from Hadapsar areas have failed to finalise a spot for the monument. While the discussion has taking place on several occasions since the past one year, the authorities have failed to find a concrete solution. This time, however, standing committee chairman Murli Mohel asked to take unanimous decision on the location of the memorial after discussing with the martyr's family members and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials regarding funds.

The 33-year-old jawan's mother, however, has expressed disappointment over the delay. "My son sacrificed his life for the nation. But, it has almost been a year now and the monument is yet to be constructed. Is this what we are getting from the civic authorities in return of my son's life?" asked Mangal Pharate, the martyr's mother.

Talking to Mirror, she continued, "We wish that the memorial be built at PMC's Bankar School in Hadapsar. The reason behind this is that more and more kids will learn of my son's sacrifice and get inspired. Saurabh is the first son from Hadapsar who has lost his life for the country. But, due to dirty political games, the monument has not been built. We will be observing his first death anniversary on December 17 this year."

Mangal said that the proposal is in a limbo has the corporators want the memorial to be built at Gadital Chowk under the flyover. "The corporators want to construct it at Gadital Chowk. But, a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has already been planned at that spot and the proposal is pending since 20 years. Therefore, we don't want them to use that site for our son," she added.

Near the flyover, the spots shortlisted by the corporators include the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) bus station, Late Ramchandra Bankar elearning school, Ganganagar and Kale Padal. Four corporators represent Hadapsar areas, of which two (Ujwala Jangale and Maruti Tupe) are from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and others (former mayor Vaishali Banker and Yogesh Sasane) from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Talking about the issue, Bankar said, "A lot of people will be able to see the memorial at a busy Gadital Chowk. All the corporators visited the spot and a final decision will be taken soon."

But, Tupe said, "We met the Pharates and the family wants to build the memorial at Bankar School. We will carry out more discussions before taking a final call."

On December 17, 2016, Saurabh, along with two other jawans, died in an assault when motorcycle-borne militants fired at an army bus in Pampore on the outskirts of Srinagar. Survived by wife, twin daughters and parents, Saurabh had joined the Indian Army in 2004 and was posted in Jammu and Kashmir.

We wish that memorial be built at PMC's Bankar School in Hadapsar so that more and more kids get inspired

— Martyr's mother Mangal Pharate