Pak to build memorial for Bhagat Singh in Lahore

Lahore, Sept 2: The Pakistan Punjab government will build a memorial for Bhagat Singh, Governor Lt Gen (retd.) Khalid Maqbool has said. Gen. Maqbool said Bhagat Singh infused new life into the freedom movement with his revolutionary ideas. Singh advocated for the empowerment of the people and became a beacon of the youth movement of that time, he said.

“Singh was the first martyr of the subcontinent and his example was followed by many youth of the time," the Daily Times quoted Gen. Maqbool as saying.

Diyal Singh Research and Cultural Forum (DSRCF) director Dr Zafar Cheema said Maulana Zafar Ali Khan bestowed the title of “Shaheed" on Bhagat Singh for his sacrifice for the national cause.

Makhan Singh Kohar, an Indian delegate at the seminar organised by the DSRCF to commemorate Bhagat Singh"s Birth Centenary, said though Singh was a Sikh, he did not represent any religion when he took on the British during the freedom struggle.

Muhammad Iqbal Virk who has claimed to own property earlier belonging to Bhagat Singh"s family, said he wanted to display his collection of Singh"s belongings at the Lahore Museum.

At this Gen. Maqbool said all of Bhagat Singh"s possessions would be rehabilitated and displayed at the museum after research.

Bhagat Singh was born at Faisalabad"s 105 GB Banga Village in 1907 and was hanged at the Lahore Jail in 1931 at the age of 24. The British hanged Singh and his comrades, Rajguru and Sukhdev for their involvement in the assassination of a British police officer, JP Saunders. ANI>