Punjab Newspaper

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today paid glowing tributes to the legendary leader Panth Rattan Master Tara Singh and described him as one of the key architects of modern India.  “It is due only to Master Tara Singh ji that the western borders of India did not shrink upto Yamuna as the great leader waged a long and relentless battle for preserving the present geographical entity of the country”, said Mr.Badal in a statement here on the eve of 124th birth anniversary of Master Tara Singh.
Meanwhile, the Shiromani Akali Dal President Mr.Sukhbir Singh Badal also paid rich tributes to the legacy of the great leader and described him as an icon for new generation.  Mr. Sukhbir Singh said that the coming generations will always remember Master Tara Singh ji with deep gratitude and respect.
In his statement, the Chief Minister recalled recalled the singular role played by Master Tara Singh for securing justice for Punjab after independence. He spearheaded the movement for linguistic reorgnisation of Punjab (Punjabi Suba) and also for safeguarding the interests of the Sikh community as a minority in India.  He signed the historic Master Tara Singh – Nehru pact which prohibits the Central Government from taking any decision involving the religious rights of the Sikhs without the prior consent of the SGPC.
The Chief Minister however regreted that the Congress govenrments at the Centre always betrayed the commitments made to the Punjabis in general and Sikhs in particular forcing them to undertake long and difficult struggles to get justice.  Mr. Badal appealed to the younger generations to follow the example set by the legendary Master Tara Singh for the Chardi Kala of Sikh Panth.