SAD opposes Cong’s decision to hand over heritage memorials to pvt players

| | Chandigarh | in Chandigarh

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday strongly condemned the Congress Government’s decision to hand over heritage memorials, including the iconic Fateh Burj, to private players after refusing to allocate funds for their upkeep.

“It is unfortunate and irresponsible on the part of the Congress Government to allow the heritage memorials, including the Chhota and Vadda Ghallughara, to decay for want of funds,” said the former minister and party spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema.

Expressing shock over the sad development, the SAD leader said that a huge effort had gone into creating these iconic memorials with the sole aim of preserving Punjab’s glorious heritage and history for future generations.

“It is condemnable that instead of building on this effort, the Congress Government is running away from even fulfilling its responsibility to maintain them. The people of Punjab would never forgive the Capt Amarinder Singh government for this heinous crime,” he said.

As per reports, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Memorial at Chappar Chiri, Chota Ghallughara memorial at Kahnuwan and Vadda Ghallughara at Sangrur were in a pathetic condition due to non-release of funds for their maintenance. Even basic facilities were not being provided at these memorials as per self admission by top officials of the State government, said Cheema.

He said that it was unfortunate that GMADA had written to Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) for initiating the bidding process to hand over these memorials to private players.

“It is surprising that on the one hand, the Tourism and Cultural Minister is making hollow claims of spending of crores to find new tourism spots to encourage tourism in the state, but on the other hand, denying paltry funds to maintain heritage memorials. This itself proved that the government did not value Sikh history and heritage,” he said.

Demanding immediate revocation of orders to hand over the heritage memorials to private players, the Akali leader said that it was the bounden duty of the government to maintain the rich and glorious heritage of the State. “It is better the government quit office than shirk this solemn duty”, he added.