Discharging what he promised during a pre-poll commitment, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday declared Malerkotla as the 23rd district of the state on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. Malerkotla is a Muslim dominated area.
The chief minister made this announcement virtually while extending wishes to the Muslim community on the auspicious occasion of Eid.
Muslim community and residents of the town have been demanding to declare Malerkotla as an independent district which was long pending.
In 2017, the Punjab government had promised to declare Malerkotla a district.
Then cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal and Razia Sultana had spoken on an Eid function in 2017 in Malerkotla and asserted that it would soon be a district.
Mr Singh also announced an allotment of Rs 500 for establishing a medical college, a girl’s college, an all-women police station and construction of a new bus stand for this district.
Malerkotla earlier was a part of Sangrur district and inhabitants of this town had to come to Sangrur to get government-related work done.
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The government will revive 150-year-old Mubarak Manzil Palace of Malerkotla, he said, adding that the state has written to Agha Khan foundation for the same.