Balbir Singh Sidhu pays obeisance at the memorial of Bhagat Asa Ram Baidwan Ji, founder of the Puadhi Akhara tradition

Balbir Singh Sidhu pays obeisance at the memorial of Bhagat Asa Ram Baidwan Ji, founder of the Puadhi Akhara tradition

‘AAP’ government failed to start the approved auditorium project in memory of Bhagat Asa Ram Baidwan Ji even in nearly five years : Balbir Singh Sidhu

S.A.S.Nagar 14 August ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Senior Congress leader and former Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu visited the memorial of Bhagat Asa Ram Baidwan Ji, the founder of the Puadhi Akhara tradition, and paid obeisance at his samadhi, offering floral tributes. On the occasion, he also met members of the memorial management committee and held a meaningful discussion on various issues concerning the area. Speaking on the occasion, Sidhu said that Bhagat Asa Ram Baidwan Ji made an invaluable contribution towards strengthening Puadhi folk culture, the Akhara tradition and social unity. Preserving his memory and carrying his legacy forward to future generations is our collective responsibility. He said that he would always remain grateful to the management committee and the residents of the area for the honour and respect bestowed upon him.

Sidhu said that during the tenure of the Congress government, he had made special efforts to establish a modern auditorium dedicated to the memory of Bhagat Asa Ram Baidwan Ji. The site and funds for this auditorium, which was proposed on the lines of Chandigarh’s Tagore Theatre, had been approved in Sector 78, with the objective of providing a major platform for Puadhi culture, folk arts, the Akhara tradition and other cultural activities. Balbir Singh Sidhu said that this is not merely a matter of constructing a building; it is about permanently preserving the rich heritage of Puadh and the memory of Bhagat Asa Ram Baidwan Ji. The prolonged delay in this important project by the government is an issue closely connected with the sentiments of the people of the area.He said that the present ‘AAP’ government in Punjab made numerous tall promises, but has failed to implement even those projects that had already been approved and were linked to public welfare. He questioned why, when the site and funds had already been approved by the Congress government, construction of the auditorium had not been started even after nearly five years.

Balbir Singh Sidhu assured the people that immediately after the formation of a Congress government in Punjab, the Bhagat Asa Ram Baidwan Auditorium project would be restarted without any further delay, and its construction would be completed on a priority basis. He said that Congress is fully committed to giving the cultural heritage of the land of Puadh the respect and recognition it deserves. In conclusion, he said that the memory of Bhagat Asa Ram Baidwan Ji is not merely the memory of an individual; it is an integral part of the cultural identity and heritage of the entire Puadh region. Every possible effort will be made to preserve this heritage.

On the occasion, Harkesh Chand Sharma Machhli Kalan (former Chairman, Market Committee Kharar), Boota Singh Sohana, Gurdeep Singh Gagga, Jaswinder Singh Chhinnda, Manjit Singh Pappi, Gurdeep Singh Ghola, Master Sukhdev Singh Sohana, Lakhwinder Singh Kala, Davinder Singh CTU, Narinder Singh Jalania, Amrik Singh Sarpanch Mataur, Malkit Singh Mataur, Sucha Singh Mataur, Krishan Kumar Sethi Pappu Bumba, Sohana, Dilbar Khan Mataur, along with a large number of residents and people from the surrounding area, were present.