Malerkotla in Punjab, a sub-division in the Sangrur district will soon get the District status. The announcement of making Malerkotla a district made by senior members of the Congress government has brought cheer to the public who had been waiting for this news for a long time.
The Congress government had promised making Malerkotla a district prior to the elections. Fulfilling party’s pre-poll promise, Punjab ministers Navjot Singh Sidhu, Manpreet Singh Badal and Razia Sultana made the announcement in the Muslim-majority town of Sangrur where the congress ministers had gone to greet people on the occasion of Eid.
The major announcements for Malerkotla
At a function to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr at a town of Sangrur, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Minister of Local Government, Tourism, Cultural Affairs, Archives and Museums of the State of Punjab, Manpreet Singh Badal, Minister for Finance & Planning and Razia Sultana, Minister of State for Public Works Department, made important announcements.
- Malerkotla to be be accorded the status of a district soon.
- Manpreet Singh Badal, and Navjot Singh Sidhu on behalf of the Punjab Government, announced a fund of Rs 1 crore and Rs 50 lakh respectively for the local idgah.
- In government’s first Budget major announcements were made to provide all necessary facilities to the Muslim community. The budget includes Rs 3 crore for an Urdu academy in Malerkotla, Rs 10 crore for graveyards in the state.
- Several benefits will be bestowed upon the residents under various welfare schemes.
- Soon the promise of establishing a government medical college in Malerkotla will also be fulfilled.
What makes Malerkotla special
- Historically, Malerkotla, a Muslim majority state was established in 1454 A.D. by Sheikh Sadruddin-i-Jahan from Afghanistan.
- Malerkotla is known for communal peace as the city remained a sole island of peace during the 1947 riots when the whole Punjab was ablaze.
- It is noteworthy that during the partition of India not even a single incident of violence was reported in Malerkotla
- Situated appropriately 35 km from the Sangrur district headquarters Malerkotla is the only Muslim-dominated assembly segment in Punjab.
- Malerkotla is famous for its badge-making industry especially the Cloth Badges.
How to reach Malerkotla
Around 120 kms from Chandigarh, the city beautiful, approximately 50 kilometres from Ludhiana and about 35 kilometres from Sangrur, Malerkotla is located on the Sangrur-Ludhiana State Highway in Punjab (number- 11) and is conveniently approachable by road. It also has a railway station and commuting by train is also possible.
Some of the must visit places in Malerkotla
Besides numerous worth watching monuments the must-visit places in Malerkotla, Punjab include
- Kuka Wala Kallar
- Jama Masjid
- Eid Gah
- Sheesh Mahal
- Mubarak Mahal
- Namdhari Shaheedi Smarak
- Nanakshahi Brick Fort
- Kachha Fort.
Punjab state already has 22 districts and the district status to Malerkotla would propel unprecedented development in the area.