PUNJAB GOVT DECIDES TO INCLUDE CHAPTER ON GENERAL ATTARIWALA IN SCHOOL BOOKS

PUNJAB GOVT DECIDES TO INCLUDE CHAPTER ON GENERAL ATTARIWALA IN SCHOOL BOOKS

CM ALSO SANCTIONS RS. 10 LAKH FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE & MUSEUM IN ATTARI

Nabaz-e-Punjab Bureau, Chandigarh/Amritsar, February 10:
The Punjab Government has decided to include a chapter on the heroic General Sham Singh Attariwala in school books, along with a series of other initiatives to promote the historic Attari village, including renaming of the Attari Railway Station and the Integrated Check Post (ICP) after the great Sikh soldier.
This was announced here on Saturday by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, while talking to mediapersons after paying floral tributes at the India Gate memorial of great Sikh warrior on his 172nd Martyrdom Day and recalling Sham Singh’s exemplary courage.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister, who later paid respects at the Samadhi of the General in his native village of Attari, also sanctioned Rs. 10 lakh for development of sports infrastructure and a museum in his memory.
In the village, the Chief Minister unveiled armoured Vijyanta Tank, dedicated by the Indian Army in the memory of General Attariwala. He further disclosed that the MIG aircraft, whose release the Sham Singh Attariwala Trust wanted to be expedited, would also be arriving shortly.
Speaking to mediapersons earlier, the Chief Minister disclosed that the government had directed the Punjab School Education Board to incorporate a chapter on the bravery of General Attariwala, and had also requested NCERT to similarly include a chapter in its curriculum.
On the restoration of the railway station’s name after the brave General, Captain Amarinder said he had taken up the matter with the Union Railway Minister. He had also taken up the ICP renaming issue with the Union Home Minister, he added.
Captain Amarinder further announced that he had requested the Ministry of Defence to ask the Western Command to hold an ex-serviceman rally every year at Attari. He had also urged the Minister of Communications to make Attari village a Wi-Fi zone for the benefit of the lakhs of people visiting Attari every year.

Besides directing the Department of Sports to organize an Annual Sports Event at “Sarovar Site” at Attari, the Chief Minister said, in response to a request from the Trust for the posting of a dedicated Guide at the Attari Samadhi & Museum, that the government would be happy to train and certify three unemployed youth of Attari village as Tourist Guides. He asked the Trust to forward these names to the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board.
On the demand by the Trust to run tourist buses to the historical site, the Chief Minister said he had been informed that the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board was already running three Hop-On-Hop-Off buses which come to the India Gate.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister recalled the contribution of General Attariwala to Punjab’s independence, and paid an ode to the gallant martyr for his role in the first Anglo-Sikh War at Sabraon on February 10, 1846.
Prominent amongst those who were present on the occasion included Local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, Media Advisor to CM Raveen Thukral, MLAs Sukhvinder Singh Sarkaria, OP Soni, Dr. Raj Kumar Verka, Inderjir Bolaria, Harpartap Ajnala, Harminder Singh Gill, Santokh Singh Bhalaipur, Tarsem Singh DC, Sunil Dutti, Sukhwinder Singh Danny, Dr. Dharamvir besides District Presidents of Congress Unit Urban Yugal Kishore and Rural Bhagwant Pal Singh Sachhar. Apart from these, Col. Harinder Singh Attari and Col. Kuldip Singh were also present.