AAP constitutes committee to observe martyrdom day of Shere-e-Punjab Lala Laj Pat Rai at Jagraon

Ludhiana, September 27, 2014: Aam Aadmi Party has decided to observe the martyrdom day of Lala Laj Pat Rai at Jagraon which falls on November 17. In this regard the Aam Aadmi Party has constituted a memorial committee for this purpose. The committee is headed by Jatinder Modgill-a known environmentalist from Ludhiana and amongst its members are HS Phoolka, Advocate Varinder Khara-President of Prachin Mandir Payal, Advocate Sunny Verma and Jagraon Leaders Gopi Sharma, Sourav Kalsi, Anudeep Singh Khaira, Ravideep Uppal Kothe Pona, Sukhjinder Singh Dehrka, Vinit Jagota and Gaurav Sharma.
Aam Aadmi Party is also holding a rally to commemorate the Birth Day of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh on September 28 at Khatkar Kala near Rahon, District Nawa Sahar from 10 AM onwards.
H.S Phoolka said that Lala Laj Pat Rai was martyred on 17th November, 1928 and while he was assaulted in Lahore, His words were "I declare that the blows struck at me today will be the last nails in the coffin of British rule in India" and it proved to be the last nails in the coffin of British rule. As his ancestral house is in Jagraon which presently hosts as a Municipal Library and his maternal village and birth place Dhudike is also near to Jagraon, thus observing the martyrdom day of such a great personality would be infusing the energy in today’s youth to devote their life to serve the nation and the society.
When Lala Laj Pat Rai died on 17th November, 1928; Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation in his tribute to Lala Laj Pat Rai exclaimed, “Men like Lala Laj Pat Rai cannot die as long as the sun shines in the Indian sky.”But unfortunately the soil of Jagraon which produced many heroic figures like Lala Laj Pat Rai, who gave a direction to the youth during freedom struggle including Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh  today itself lies directionless.  In the today’s Punjab the youth is directionless due to the state policies and there inefficacy to curb the drug menace including the real culprits behind drug mafia.
Whereas Lala Laj Pat Rai in his early days founded a trust in the memory of his father Radha Krishan in Jagraon to enlighten the youth with the empowerment of modern education and later many other renowned institutes were established all over India in the name of Lala Laj Pat Rai as part of his vision, for e.g.  Lala Laj Pat Rai Memorial Medical College- Meerut, Lala Laj Pat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences-Hissar, Lala Laj Pat Rai Institute of Management and Law-Mumbai. But no premier institution was established by the State or the Central Government in memory of Lala Laj Pat Rai at Jagraon.
In a speech at Jagraon on 23rd February, 2014 the present Prime Minister Narinder Modi stated that “the Punjab CM has given due credit to Lala Lajpat Rai but Congress does not have time to remember him” but the bitter truth is that neither Congress nor BJP or Akalis have given credit and due respect to Lala Laj Pat Rai. His native place even lacks in basic infrastructure and memorials of Lala Laj Pat Rai are in a neglected state including his ancestral home which is turning into debris, day by day.
Even being centrally located in Punjab and its close proximity to the Manchester of India-Ludhiana, Jagraon always remained neglected by the central and the state Government. No industry has been established in this hub of the Grain collection said to be ‘Asia’s second largest grain collection city.’ Whereas the Sidhwa Bet area of Jagraon Tehsil which is already a backward area is highly under the garb of sand and drug mafia.  
It is our demand that a Premier Institution of Health, Sports or Technology etc. should be established in Jagraon in memory of Lala Laj Pat Rai. To give due respect to Lala Laj Pat Rai, the Aam Aadmi Party will observe his martyrdom day with full energy, so that his principles and direction are infused back into the soil of Jagraon and consciences of the youth of Punjab.
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