March 24, 2008	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 15, 1429

NEW DELHI, March 23: On the 77th martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on Sunday, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal announced that Bhagat Singh’s native village of Khatkar Kallan would be developed as a museum to martyrs.

Hagar Singh and his two associates went to the gallows together on this day in 1931. Addressing a function to mark the occasion in Nawanshahr on Sunday, Mr Badal disclosed his plans to give a facelift to the museum at the martyr’s village Khatkar Kallan where portraits of all freedom fighters including those of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, besides other memorabilia will be put on display.

“It would apprise the younger generation about our supreme legacy of nationalism and patriotism”, Mr Badal said.

Bemoaning the plight of the common man even after 60 years of independence it was unfortunate that an India free from illiteracy, unemployment and starvation, as envisioned by its freedom fighters, remained unfulfilled, the chief minister said.

Asking the centre and state governments to take pledge on this day to undertake programmes and schemes exclusively for the development and welfare of the common man, he said it will be a real tribute to India’s national heroes.