FEROZEPUR – The state government is yet to take the possession of the building that was used as a hideout by Bhagat Singh and his revolutionary comrades in Ferozepur in spite of the fact that the Department Tourism and Cultural Affairs had declared the building a protected monument in December 2015.
Under the Punjab Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Remain and Sites Act, the building has been declared a protected monument, yet the building is under the possession of the Sri Krishna Bhagti Satsang Trust.
Advocate HC Arora, who had earlier filed a public interest litigation for granting heritage status to this building, had again filed an application in the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking appropriate directions to the government to take steps for converting this building into a museum before March 23 – the martyrdom day of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. However, nothing has been done.
Though Deputy Commissioner DPS Kharbanda had served a notice to the inhabitants of this building asking them not to alter the structure and vacate the premises, the shopkeepers on the ground floor and the family occupying the first floor have refused to vacate unless the government makes any alternative arrangement for them.
“For me this building is no less than a pilgrimage as I have grown up on stories around this hideout which was taken on rent by my father Dr Gaya Prashad under fake name of Dr BS Nigam to run a pharmacy here,” said Kranti Kumar Katiyar, demanding that a museum should be set up in this building at the earliest.
“While pharmacy was run on the ground floor, the first floor was used by the revolutionaries to make bombs and evolve strategy against the oppressive British rule,” said Rakesk Kumar, who has also authored several books on this monument.
Rakesh also reiterated the demand of the residents to establish a museum and library in this building so that the youths could imbibe nationalist values and follow the dreams of the martyrs.
