Naujawan Bharat Sabha pledged for setting up of library and museum at Bhagat Singh’s hide-out place

Ferozepur, January 8, 2016 :  The Naujawan Bharat Sabha – a group of sentinels of martyrs’ ideology – today pledged at the National Memorial Hussainiwala, to continue their fight till such time the martyr’s hide-place in Toori Bazar, Ferozepur City notified as a ‘protected monument’ by the state government is converted into museum and library.

Added here, after the issue of notification by the Archaeological Survey of India, declaring the hideout as a protected monument, the administration has not so far chalked out a plan to provide an alternative site to the occupants of the building. At present, three shops are being run on the ground floor and a family is residing on rent on the first floor of the building.

About a year ago, the department of cultural affairs and museums, Punjab, through a notification, had invited objections to grant heritage status to the historic two-storey building located at Toori Bazaar. Thereafter, the matter is lying in limbo.

Addressing to the youths,  Longowal, State General Secretary, NBS said the government are bent upon destroying the ideology and memorials attached to the martyrs’ because they are afraid of turning the political tables by getting inspiration of rich heritage from them.  This is the reason; they are adopting the cheap tactics like demolishing of house of martyr Madan Lal Dhingra and defacement of the outlook of Jallianwala Bagh.

The revolutionaries – Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Chander Shekhar Azad, Shiv Verma, Dr.Gya Parshad and others had been operating the revolutionary activities from the hide-out place in Toori Bazar.  It is said the important issue of taking the revenge of Lala Lajpat Rai was also planned at this place. In the court, around 19 witnesses have authenticated  the hide-out place, said Manga Azad State Leader, NBS and Rajinder Singh, State President, Punjab Students Union.

Rakesh Kumar, an author of various books on the life and times of Bhagat Singh and others, who had made a research on the historical hiding place, was also present on this occasion.

He said this hide-out place has a special significance in the freedom of India as  Bhagat Singh’s hair were also cut at this place and it is one of the important secret places of the freedom movement party – Hindustan Socialist Republic Association.  This place needs to be dedicated to the public by converting into museum and library.

Sources said the present occupants of the building will not vacate the building till such time they are provided the suitable accommodation.

Number of youths participated in the pledge ceremony with revolutionary enthusiasm.