Daily Times

LAHORE: The 87th death anniversary of great freedom fighters Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukh Dev was commemorated by Bhagat Singh Foundation, Pakistan, and other civil society and political organisations at Shadman Chowk on Friday.

The participants paid rich tributes to the great freedom fighters. A lowkey event was held this year in view of what the foundation said was a negative campaign led by Indian Prime Minister Narinder Modi who was promoting the narrative of hatred and fundamentalism across the border. In a statement, the foundation said, “we, the members of Bagat Singh Foundation, and civil society activists observe this day as the day of great revolutionary Shaheed Bhagat Singh because he was hanged along with his three companion on March 23, 1931, at the same place.”

In spite of threats from extremist outfits, activists gathered at Shahdman Chowk and paid rich tributes to the legendry freedom fighters for their great sacrifices for the peoples of the Subcontinent.

“We will never forget the courage and sacrifice of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and his companions. Bhagat Singh raised his voice against imperialism and unlawful occupation of India by Britain. He will be remembered as a great freedom fighter who was a hero of this region and a son of this soil as he was born in Chak105 GB Banga, Jaranwala Road, Faisalabad, and got educated in Lahore. He visited many towns of Punjab to inspire other youngsters to fight for freedom,” the statement said.

Bhagat Singh Foundation Pakistan founder Abdullah Malik said , “We are observing Shaheed Bhagat Singh day as a form of protest against fundamentalist policies of Modi sarkar. As they are ruining the peace in the region and trying to create controversy on this issue too.

In our opinion Bhagat Singh had no concern with creed, caste, colour or religion, as he worked as a freedom fighter for the people of this region at a time when all of us were living under British colonial rule and at that time he raised his voice against Britain’s unjust rule.”

Malik said further, “We are creating space for peace in the region as we are observing this day as a day of our common national heroes, but Modi sarkar is not ready to commemorate those buried in India and considered by Muslim on both sides of the border to be their heroes.

“We demand that the governments of India and Pakistan declare all freedom fighters to be their national heroes and commemorate their birth and death anniversaries as national days.”

Malik criticised the Punjab government for backtracking from its commitment to rename the Shadman Chowk as Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chowk. “The new name of the chowk had been approved by a committee and the city government has no authority to withdraw the case. We are filling an intra-court appeal against that decision. In our opinion, this decision was reverted due to pressure from Islamic fundamentalists.”

A candle lit vigil was held at the chowk to remember the sacrifice of Bhagat Singh and his comrades. The participants carried placards with the slogans in support of peace in the region.

Published in Daily Times, March 24^th  2018.