The question haunting people alive with ‘Bikram Chowk’ history is: Can General Bikram Singh’s statue be delinked from Chowk that gave it its famed identity after the name of the General, apple of people eye? S.S. Bijral former IGP & BJP state spokesperson said it can’t be. Asserting, the iconic army general was cremated in center of road respecting public sentiments and creating history, he said ‘don’t delink General’s statue with Bikram Chowk.
Noting that 54th death anniversary of Lt. General Bikram Singh, GOC 15 Corps shall be observed on 22nd November and formal function, an annual feature, shall be held there Bijral said shifting General’s statue temporarily to facilitate laying of Bikram Chowk flyover was understandable, but locating it permanently thereafter at southern end of Tawi Bridge nearly 70 meters away from the crossing is incomprehensible, unwarranted, a disrespect of public sentiments besides being inadvertent tempering history motivating for generations.
Reminding authorities that he in public interest had in pleaded for restoration of pristine glory of Bikram Chowk by restoring back the statue in chowk and highlighted by media on August 20, 2017 Bijral resented that the very statue strangely is permanently installed now way off from its deserved original location depriving the chowk the very source that gave it the name ‘BIKRAM CHOWK’.
Former IGP Bijral applauding the authorities of 1963 that respected general public sentiments, overlooked municipal and other restrictions in vogue, allowed cremation to be held at public crossing and built up a deserving memorial – source of great motivation for generations, expected the authorities now shall restore pristine glory of Bikram Chowk by shifting back the statue in the chowk to generate motivating nationalistic spirit in youth at a time when iconic public figures in society are rare to find.
