Pakistan accord Bhagat Singh as martyred but India still in dilemma

Bhagat Singh and his revolutionary comrades Rajguru and Sukhdev who were hanged by the British on March 23, 1931, in the Lahore Conspiracy case have not been declared as martyred till now.

New Delhi: Even as the country is gearing up for its 74th Independence day tomorrow, the Home Ministry is unable to conclude whether freedom fighter Bhagat Singh can be designated as 'martyr' or not, revealed an RTI.

Copy of RTI

Bhagat Singh and his revolutionary comrades Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged by the British on March 23, 1931, in the Lahore Conspiracy case.

It is more surprising to know that even our neighbouring country, Pakistan has given him the status of martyr, but from the UPA government to NDA government it failed to decide whether the status of a martyr can be accorded to Bhagat Singh.

In 2018, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has recommended to the Home Ministry that it should explore whether the status of a martyr can be accorded to Bhagat Singh.

It has also said that in case it cannot be done, the government must give a detailed explanation for that.

Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu said government facilitates freedom fighters and gives pension but revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh are not even given the status of a martyr leave aside any financial support to their families.

"A demand to declare Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev as martyrs is made every year during their birth and death anniversaries. Punjab government had declared Sarabjit Singh as a 'national martyr', who died in Kot Lakhpat jail, but Bhagat Singh and others were ignored," Acharyulu pointed out.

Acharyulu also pointed out that the Punjab government claimed that no official recognition could be given to anybody as a 'martyr' as Article 18 of the Constitution does not permit conferring of any title by the state.

"When Article 18 of the Constitution of India could not prevent Bharat Ratna and Padma awards, recognising meritorious personalities, pleading it as a ground to avoid official martyr status to Bhagat Singh is not logical," he said.

He said surprisingly great heroes like Bhagat Singh, members of Indian National Army under the leadership of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and other revolutionaries were totally ignored by both Congress and non-Congress governments.