The Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and his wife Isher Judge Ahluwalia, Vice-Chairperson, Punjab Planning Board, today visited the dilapidated qila of Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, the great Sikh warrior of the medieval period and the only Sultan-ul-Quam ((King of the Nation), here today and asked for its immediate preservation.

Describing the samadh and qila of Sardar Ahluwalia as national heritage, Dr Ahluwalia said he would take up the case for its preservation with the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh.

They were shocked to see the bad condition of Qila Ahluwalia, near the Golden Temple. The qila, which was auctioned in the beginning of the 20th century by the British Government, has emerged as a big shopping complex as nobody has bothered to preserve this historical building belonging to the great Sikh warrior.

According to historians, the fort was intact till 1850 as Sardar Ahluwalia used to stay here. However, during the British regime, Marwaris purchased it in an auction.

In the meantime, accepting the demand of the Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Memorial Society, headed by Mr Jagjit Singh Walia, to establish a Chair after the name of Sardar Jassa Singh, Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia took up the matter with the Vice-Chancellor who immediately gave his consent in this regard.

Dr S.P. Singh, Vice-Chancellor, said financial help would be sought from the Chief Minister for establishing the Chair. Mr Onkar Singh Sandhu, President All-India Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia Federation, also submitted a memorandum to Dr Ahluwalia for reviving the gates after the names of Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia.