Gidderbaha Mandi soaks in centenary celebrations

Gidderbaha Mandi soaks in centenary celebrations
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Gidderbaha, December 8

The Gidderbaha Mandi, which was established in 1909 by British, has completed 100 years and the town is busy in the two-day centenary celebrations, which began today. Gidderbaha, a sub-division of Muktsar district, is the constituency from where Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was elected to the Assembly for the first time, in 1957.
The celebrations are serving dual purpose —the centenary of the mandi and the 83rd birthday of the CM.
There were talks in the town that finance and planning minister Manpreet Singh Badal, who represents the Gidderbaha constituency in the Legislative Assembly, had ‘intentionally’ opted for the celebrations to be held today.
Not only the town but the roads leading to Gidderbaha were also dotted with huge hoardings. Besides arranging sequence of events and renovating the historical clock tower, the boundary wall of the mandi as well as its gates were given fresh coats of twin-shade paint.
Inaugurating the celebrations today, Manpreet first attended an Ardas ceremony at Gurudwara Guru Amardas Ji and later inaugurated a medical camp at the MSD community centre. Following that, he attended the founders’ day function of local Malwa School, founder of which is CM Parkash Singh Badal. Manpreet inspired the students to set goals and strive to achieve them.
Further, the finance minister inaugurated a bar room and a library on the courts complex where Bar Association president Gurmeet Mann along with his colleagues thanked Manpreet for giving financial support.
A special cultural programme for womenfolk was arranged at a park where Manpreet and his kin marked their presence. A basked ball match was held at Baba Ganga Ram stadium where various Punjabi singers, including Ashok Masti, a product of Gidderbaha, enthralled all by their performance. Later, a troupe of sportspersons held a march past in the town.
Talking to this correspondent, Manpreet said, “It is an initiative to bring people close and strengthen their bonding.”
When asked why Opposition leaders were not seen around at the celebrations, Manpreet replied he would pay a visit to all the leaders of Opposition and request them to participate.
About the questions raised over the date of centenary celebrations, Manpreet said, “That it is my uncle’s birthday today is a mere coincidence. Though we are glad about it the celebrations are not meant to celebrate his birthday only. It is dedicated to the town.”
The huge hoardings and cut-outs installed in and around the town had pictures of CM Parkash Singh Badal, Manpreet Singh Badal, his father Gurdas Badal and brother-in-law, Jai Jeet Singh alias Jojo. However, picture of deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal was missing on most of them. When asked about it, Manpreet denied it to be a deliberate move. He said, “It was the willingness of those who got the boards installed. Sukhbir is our party president and we all respect him a lot.”