Punjab govt to build memorial in memory of Ishmeet

Ludhiana, Aug 3 (UNI) The Punjab Government will construct a befitting memorial in memory of Star 'Voice of India' Ishmeet Singh at his home town here.

The memorial will be in the shape of an international level music academ, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal announced during the 'antim ardas' and 'shardhanjali samaroah' of the 19-year-old budding singer who died after drowning in a pool in a hotel in Male in the Maldives recently.

Mr Badal announced to rename the link road connecting the Pakhowal road with Gill road as Ishmeet Singh Marg. He also announced a financial assistance of Rs 11 lakh for the family of the late singer.

The Chief Minister assured that he would write to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to hold a high- level inquiry to ascertain the cause of Ismeet's death with the Maldives government. The family had made the demand for the inquiry.

Paying rich tributes, Mr Badal said Ishmeet had achieved enormous success in the world of music during a short period of one year and won the hearts of countrymen with his enormous talent. He said Ishmeet had remained committed to his religion and had brought unmatched honour, not only to the family, but to the entire Sikh community, state and the country.

Expressing his deep sympathies with his parents, the Chief Minister said the news of the singers death came as a great shock.

He also offered a suitable job to any member of the family, if they desired.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister presented two paintings of Ishmeet prepared by painters Rajinder Venus and Ashok of Ramgarhia Girls College to his father.

Paying his tributes, SGPC chief Avtar Singh that announced a financial assistance of Rs 11 lakh to the family and setting up of an annual music award in Ishmeet's memory by the SGPC. This annual award would carry a financial assistance of Rs 1.51 lakh. He also announced that an institute to impart music tarining would also be set up by the SGPC in Ishmeet's memory.

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Paramjit Singh Sarna also paid tributes to Ishmeet and announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the family and institution of an annual award of Rs 1 lakh in his name.

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