Excelsior Correspondent
REASI, July 23: General Zorawar Singh Memorial Committee observed 167th birth anniversary of Maharaja Pratap Singh at Reasi today.
Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment Choudhary Lal Singh was the chief guest on the occasion.
The Minister visited the birth place of Maharaja Pratap Singh at Court Complex Reasi and paid floral tributes to the late Maharaja.
He also addressed a mega function at Sanjog Ghar which was organized by the Committee to celebrate the birth anniversary of Maharaja Pratap Singh.
Hundreds of people from Bomag, Pouni, Arnas, Dhanour, Katra, Vijay Pur, Dharmari, Salal, Thanpal, Granmore and adjoining parts participated in the function.
While speaking on the occasion, Lal Singh exhorted upon the youth to follow the footsteps of late Maharaja and son of the soil to raise a better world to live in. He said that he was really a leader of commitment, dedication, honesty and pragmatic thinking. “If we want to progress more and strengthen our economic sphere, we must adopt Maharaja as a model and educate people to enshrine his qualities”, he added.
The speakers threw light on the life of Maharaja Pratap Singh and said that he has recorded great works during his life in the overall development of Jammu and Kashmir in different spheres.
Minister of State for Finance and Planning, Ajay Nanda, while speaking on occasion, highlighted the development works being executed to preserve the historical places and monuments in Reasi and adjoining areas.
Earlier, Lal Singh visited the statute of General Zorawar Singh at bus stand and planted saplings around it.
The main demands raised by the General Zorawar Singh Committee included handing over of birth place and to Committee, removal of encroachments around statute of Gen Zorawar Singh at Bus stand, proper development of Bhim Garh Fort and other issues of the Reasi town.
Present on the occasion were MLA Ramnagar, R.S. Pathania, Ex MLA Balwant Mankotia, DDC Reasi Ravinder Kumar, President Gen. Zorawar Singh Memorial Committee Reasi Capt Baldev Singh, Vice Presidents- Shamsher Singh, Munshi Ram, Sudershan Singh, Gen. Secretary Daljeet Singh and other members of the committee.
Meanwhile, Minister planted saplings at various locations along Domail-Katra-Reasi road. He also interacted with people at Sulla Park and said that no stone will be left unturned in the State to preserve and restore the forest areas by making this plantation drive a mass movement.
Lal Singh said, “this year we have the target of 50-60 lakh saplings to be planted in the State”, adding “department would work extensively to achieve the target of plantation with focus on fruit and medicinal plants”.
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