Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday announced that he would take up with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi the issue of prevailing upon Pakistan to grant Indian devotees open access to more historic gurdwaras across the border.
The announcement was made during the 550th prakash purab of Guru Nanak Dev, where the President Ram Nath Kovind joined the Chief Minister in leading the historic celebrations in the State.
Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot were among the galaxy of luminaries present at the state-level function to mark the auspicious occasion.
The Chief Minister, on the occasion, also announced the State Government’s decision to honour Punjab Police personnel with ‘Prakash Purb Tagma’ (Medal) for their service to the state in the true spirit of Guru Nanak Dev ji’s ideology.
The Chief Minister also announced that the 550th prakash purb celebrations, which commenced last year, would continue till November 2020.
Capt Amarinder, addressing a religious congregation after the bhog of ‘Sri Sehaj Path’, said that as per his Government’s decision to release 550 convicts prematurely to mark the historic occasion, 450 had already been freed, while others would be released over the next few months.
He also welcomed millions of devotees (sangat) who had converged from different parts of the country and foreign shores to participate in the prakash purab celebrations with great enthusiasm and religious fervour.
The Sehaj Path, jointly organized by the Punjab Government, Sant Samaj, various Sikh religious organisations and Sikh Sangat on behalf of the people of Punjab at Guru Nanak Darbar, had commenced on November 5.
Once again expressing his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for helping realise the Sikh community’s dream of visiting the Kartarpur Gurdwara, Capt Amarinder hoped that this would be followed by more such gurdwaras in Pakistan being opened to Indian devotees.
“I would personally take up the matter with Modi and urge him to raise the issue with Imran to facilitate the realization of the Sikh community’s dream to visit those gurdwaras, such as Panja Sahib and Nankana Sahib, also,” he said.
Capt Amarinder acknowledged the support given by the Central Government in making the historic celebrations a success and expressed
happiness at the participation of people from different political parties, as a befitting tribute to pahli patshahi (first Sikh guru), who always spoke of Sarbat Da Bhala.
Dwelling on the teachings of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, he underscored the significance of education, in line with Guru Ji’s Bani that “Vidya Vichari, ta Parupkari”. He exhorted one and all to emulate the great Guru’s mantra of “Kirat Karo (earning a livelihood by honest means), Naam Japo (constant chanting of Name of God) and Vand Chhako (share the fruits of labour)”.
The Chief Minister underlined the importance of following Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji’s message ‘Pavan Guru, Pani Pita, Mata Dharat Mahat’ that is air the guru, water the father and the earth the mother by protecting the environment for future generations.
Exhorting all to make judicious use of groundwater, which was swiftly depleting, and to refrain from burning paddy stubble and excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, he appealed to everyone to preserve nature and natural resources to make Punjab clean, green and pollution-free.