Punjab to handover bust of Ranjit Singh to French envoy in June

Punjab government would hand over the bust of Sikh warrior Maharaja Ranjit Singh, which will be installed at Saint-Tropez in France- the birthplace of General Jean-Francois Allard, to the French envoy in India in June.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said this to a delegation, led by Deputy Mayor of Saint Tropez, Henri Allard, the direct lineal descendant of the General, which called on the former, an official spokesperson said.
Henri, who was from the fourth generation of General Allard, said the General along with Italian General Ventura, had served in the army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and they made an "enormous" contribution to modernisation of his military through their strategic experience and raised Fauj-i-khas, the "special" or "royal" brigade.

The Deputy Mayor said the installation of the bust in Saint Tropez on September 17, 2016 would strengthen "bonhomie, friendship and compassion" between the people of Punjab and France.
Claude Maniscalco, Director Saint-Tropez Tourism, said Saint-Tropez was a very prominent tourist's destination world over which nearly 6.5 million people visit every year.