Demands not met, freedom fighters’ kin decline honour

Sangrur, August 16

Family members of freedom fighters under the banner of Freedom Fighters Successors Organisation, Punjab, (FFSOP) today said they had refused to take honour from various ministers in 14 districts on Independence Day to express anger over the non-fulfillment of their demands.

Harinderpal Singh, president, FFSOP, said, “In 14 districts, our members went to the functions, submitted memorandums for our demands and left the venue.” He said the 14 districts included Sangrur, Barnala, Patiala, Mansa, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Muktsar ,Moga, Faridkot, Khanna and Fatehgarh Sahib. Their main demands include houses for the families of freedom fighters, free electricity, exemption from toll charges and free medical. Before giving a call for boycotting the honour, members of the FFSOP observed fast in front of the DC office for 12 days. They lifted their dharna after assurances from the government for the issuance of a notification to accept their demands on August 13. Attempts to contact Cabinet minister OP Soni proved futile. — TNS