NAWANSHAHR: The Indian Army is unmatched in terms of courage and martyrdom and the new generation must come forward to maintain the dignity of its uniform. This was stated by the Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal while addressing a function at Government Middle Smart School, Siana today after unveiling the statue of Ladakh hero Lt. Gen. Bikram Singh at his native village Siana in Balachaur, 20 km from here. He also laid the foundation stone for the construction of a museum and library in memory of the martyr there.
The Finance Minister Manpreet Singh congratulated all for the memorial erected to keep the memory of the martyr alive. He said that the history of Indian Army was full of martyrs. He called upon today's young generation to make a conscious effort to eradicate the scourge of bribery, poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and drug addiction from the country.
Constituency MLA Chaudhary Darshan Lal Mangupur said that the martyr Lieutenant General Bikram Singh had made India famous all over the world with his acts of bravery for which the entire region remains indebited to and proud of. He said that all round development of the area would be a true tribute to the martyr for which no stone would be left unturned.
Ramanjit Singh Sikki, MLA, Khadur Sahib, who was present on the occasion, said that the sacrifices of the martyrs were a source of inspiration for the young generations and the youth should come forward to make their dreams come true.
Giving a detailed account of the life and achievements of the martyr, Lt. Gen. Amrik Singh Bahia said that after his martyrdom he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and Bikram Chowk was built in his name in Jammu and Kashmir.
Apart from the family members of the martyr, Jaswinder Singh Kahma, the President of the Lieutenant General Bikram Singh Society, which raised the statue, Chaudhary Ajay Mangupur, SP Prithipal Singh, DSP Davinder Singh, Municipal Council Balachaur President Narinder Ghai Tinku, Chairman Market Committee Harjit Singh Jadli, Tarsem Jadli, among others, were present.
In box:
Chaudhary Darshan Lal Mangupur, MLA Balachaur, who was standing alongside the minister on the stage suddenly became ill and fell unconscious when Manpreet Singh Badal was addressing the function. He was rushed to a private hospital on Garhshankar Road, where he was discharged after an hour-long treatment.