Naming of Halwara airport: Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha's kin, native village happy with Punjab move

LUDHIANA: With Punjab assembly on Wednesday passing a resolution to request the Union government to name the upcoming international airport at Halwara after freedom fighter Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, villagers in his native village were jubilant about the development. In Sarabha village, a group of villagers have been sitting on a dharna in support of their four demands, which included naming of Halwara airport after the great freedom fighter.
Baldev Singh, aka Dev Sarabha, who along with other villagers has been sitting on a protest in support of the demands, said they are extremely happy that the state government has passed resolution for naming the airport after Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha as it is one of their four demands. He said they had given several memorandums to deputy commissioner's office about their demands, including naming of the upcoming airport.
"Bibi Sukhdev Kaur, who belonged to his family, died last year, but she would have been very happy that the airport will be named after her grandfather. When she was alive, she felt elated after the road to our village was named after Sarabha. A bus stand at Mullanpur was also named after him," he added. "Family of Sarabha's sister lives in Canada, US and England, and some relatives stay in Issru, Beela in Barnala, Ghaloti near Rara Sahib."
A prominent village of Sarabha village, Sukhwinder Singh Babli, who is president of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha sports club which every year organises a function in the memory of freedom fighter, said the Centre should name the airport after Sarabha without delay. He said people from the whole area respect the great freedom fighter and pay tribute to him on his birth and death anniversaries.
"He belonged to the entire country. We live in a free country because of people of Sarabha. For long, we had been demanding this (naming of airport)," Sukhwinder said.
Sarabha's nephew Bant Singh (80) said he is elated to hear about the new development. He said his uncle had made great sacrifice for the country.
A reputed educationist, Sardara Singh Johl said it is a very good step if they (government) do it (name the airport after Sarabha) as they have already named an airport after Shaheed Bhagat Singh. He said his (Sarabha's) sacrifice is an example of exemplary commitment to the country.