Why did Pakistan scrap plan to rename Lahore's Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh?
A plan to rename Shadman Chowk in Lahore after Indian freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and install his statue has been scrapped. The decision was made following an opinion from retired military official Commodore (retd.) Tariq Majeed, according to the Lahore District Government. The proposal had been intended to honor Bhagat Singh, who was hanged by the British rulers in 1931.
In a written response submitted to the Lahore High Court (LHC) by Assistant Advocate General Asghar Leghari, it was revealed that Commodore Majeed had criticized Bhagat Singh's legacy. Majeed argued that Singh was not a revolutionary but a criminal, and described him as a "terrorist" for his actions, including the killing of British police officer John P. Saunders. He further asserted that Singh was executed for these crimes and recommended that Shadman Chowk should not be renamed in his honor, nor should a statue of him be installed.
Allegations Against Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation
Majeed’s report also made serious allegations against the Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation, accusing it of promoting a narrative hostile to Islamic ideology and Pakistani culture. The report stated that the foundation should be banned, claiming that it was working against Pakistan’s values. Additionally, Majeed emphasized that naming a place after an atheist like Bhagat Singh was unacceptable in Pakistan, citing Islamic prohibitions on human statues.
Imtiaz Rasheed Qureshi, Chairman of the Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation Pakistan, strongly rejected the allegations against Singh and his foundation. He described Bhagat Singh as a great revolutionary, freedom fighter, and martyr, stating that his legacy as a hero of India’s freedom struggle remains undisputed. Qureshi also announced plans to send a legal notice to Commodore Majeed, challenging the military official’s claims and defending Bhagat Singh’s historical significance.
Legal Battle Over Shadman Chowk Naming
Qureshi’s foundation filed a contempt petition in the LHC, accusing the district government of failing to implement a court order from 2018. The LHC had previously instructed the authorities to rename Shadman Chowk in honor of Bhagat Singh. The petitioners argued that the decision to rename the chowk and install a statue had not been carried out and that the government’s delay violated the court's directives. The hearing of the contempt petition has been adjourned until January 17, 2025.
Bhagat Singh was executed by the British colonial government on March 23, 1931, at the age of 23, along with his comrades Rajguru and Sukhdev. They were convicted for their role in a conspiracy against the British government and the killing of police officer John Saunders. Despite the controversy surrounding the renaming of Shadman Chowk, Bhagat Singh remains a symbol of resistance and martyrdom for millions of people across India and beyond.