Govt expresses inability to convert martyrs’ hide-out into museum

Govt expresses inability to convert martyrs’ hide-out into museum

Shaheed Bhagat Singh & other revolutionaries’ secret place in 1928-29 in Ferozepur

Ferozepur, May 13, 2016 : Punjab government has expressed its inability to covert the martyrs’ hide-out at Turi Bazar in Ferozepur town into a museum. Principal Secretary, Culture Anjali Bhawra said in her affidavit, “There was no undertaking or direction to the government to convert building in question as museum.”

In response to an application filed by advocate H C Arora, in his pending contempt petition, for seeking direction to the Punjab government to throw the martyrs’ hide-out open to public, by converting it into a museum, the Principal Secretary, Tourism and Cultural Affairs has stated in an affidavit filed in the office of Registrar of the High Court that the area of 1,150 square feet which was used by Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh and other freedom fighters is in the hands of private parties. The building in question at present is a protected monument and according to the provisions of the Punjab Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1964, it has to be kept or restored in the same shape by the private persons. In compliance of the order of January 2015, the building in question has been declared as Protected Monument under the Act. There was no undertaking or direction by the High Court to convert building in question as museum.”

In the order of February 26, this year, a Single Bench comprising Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain had observed that “Petitioner has informed the court that the double-storeyed house in Mohalla Shahganj, Turi Bazar, Ferozepur which was the hide-out or office of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh and other revolutionaries in 1928-29 has already been notified as a monument under “the Punjab Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1964, on December 17, last year, but so far, the said monument has not been opened for public. State counsel prays for an adjournment to make a statement in this regard.”