Ludhiana: The Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar Memorial Trust entered the seventh day of a hunger strike on Tuesday, threatening a fast unto death over demands to rename the railway station and complete a road to the freedom fighter’s birthplace.Protesters want the state govt to complete a 100m road connecting Chaura Bazaar to the memorial site. Trust national president Ashok Thapar blamed administrative inertia and local political opposition for delaying the project.“Due to the govt’s inflexible attitude and the thinking of some local politicians, the work of laying a direct road to Skbirthplace remained in limbo for years,” Thapar said. “Now, after a long struggle, all obstacles to the road have been removed, those in power and government officials are remaining silent spectators to the construction of a 100-meter road.”Thapar warned that the trust would escalate its campaign if officials fail to respond.“If the state government and the district administration do not wake up from their deep slumber, the Trust will not hesitate to take even the most drastic step like a fast unto death,” Thapar said.Participants on the seventh day of the strike included Tribhuvan Thapar, Shivendra Abbott, Pragat Singh, Jayant Puri, Ashoki Verma, Pali Sahjipal, and Pramod Thapar.Civic advocacy groups pledged support for the demonstration. Jagriti Sena leaders Praveen Dang and Bhupinder Pal Banga visited the site, condemning official inaction and stating that “Jagriti Sena will stand shoulder to shoulder with the Trust in its struggle.”Senior Deputy Mayor Rakesh Prashar signaled potential resolution following talks with the trust and municipal leadership.“I have talked to the members of the trust as well as the commissioner MC. I think there is no difficulty in approving their demands as the road is going to be constructed in a few days,” Prashar said. “We will consider the other demands as well and if these could be done at our level, we will do it.”
