Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday declared that the Badals would not succeed in washing their “tainted” hands off the Bargari and other sacrilege cases with their desperate attempts to seize the limelight in the historic 550th prakash purb celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev.
“Evidently, the Badals had not learnt any lessons from their total rejection by the Sikh community for their failure to prevent the various cases of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib, as well as firing and killing of peaceful Sikh protestors under their watch,” said the Chief Minister, in an informal chat with the media persons after attending the swearing-in ceremony of the newly-elected MLAs at the Vidhan Sabha.
Pointing out that the Akalis had been rejected by the Sikh sangat in every election in the last three years, Capt Amarinder noted that Harsimrat Badal had barely managed to scrape through in the recent parliamentary elections.
The people had seen through their gimmicks and frustrated attempts to exploit religion for petty political gains, he added.
“It is unfortunate that the Akalis, under Sukhbir Badal and his wife and Union Minister Harsimrat Badal, are trying to divide the Sikh community while celebrating the biggest unifier the world had seen in Guru Nanak, who worked for inter-faith harmony and dialogue,” he said.
Also lashing out at the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC), the Chief Minister alleged that the SGPC, known as Sikhs’ mini parliament, has made a “virtual mockery of the historic 550th prakash purb celebrations by playing into the hands of the Badals”.
“Such major events have always, traditionally, been celebrated under the aegis of the State Government. But the SGPC, at the behest of the Akalis, has refused to support the State Government’s programmes this time,” said the Chief Minister.
He recalled that even the 400 years of Sri Guru Granth Sahib were celebrated by the State Government under his last tenure, as were all other such historic religious events.
“The State Government has reached out in all possible ways to the SGPC to facilitate joint celebrations, but the religious body was clearly working on the Akali agenda in the matter,” he said.
Reacting to SGPC’s charges of inadequate efforts by the State Government to ensure befitting celebration of the occasion, the Chief Minister said that all preparations for the grand celebration were in place, and Punjab was fully geared up to make this joyous occasion a lifetime experience for the pilgrims.
Also congratulating three newly-elected Congress MLAs, Capt Amarinder exhorted them to work assiduously in taking forward the State Government’s pro-people initiatives and policies to the doorsteps of the citizens.
Notably, the strength of Congress party has gone up further in the Vidhan Sabha, with treasury benches now ensconced in 80 out of the 117 seats.
Earlier, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Rana K P Singh administered the oath of office and secrecy to the three newly-elected legislators — Raminder Singh Awla from Jalalabad, Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal from Phagwara, and Indu Bala from Mukerian.
PUNJAB ASSEMBLY SPECIAL SESSION ON NOV 6
Punjab Government is organizing an event to celebrate the 550th prakash purb of Guru Nanak Dev on Wednesday, November 6, from 11 am to 1 pm in Punjab Vidhan Sabha hall, Vidhan Bhavan, Chandigarh which will be addressed by the eminent personalities and dignitaries, including the Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu.
Punjab Vidhan Sabha’s official spokesperson on Monday added that the Governor has also summoned the 15th Punjab Vidhan Sabha to meet for its Special (Ninth) Session on November 6 at 2.30 pm. At the same time, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by the Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema, has submitted a memorandum to the Speaker Rana KP Singh demanding extension of the session dedicated to the Sikhs’ first master.
PUNJAB ISSUES INFORMATION BOOKLET FOR DEVOTEES
The Punjab Government has come out with an information booklet containing details for the foreign and local devotees who are visiting Sultanpur Lodhi to be
a part of the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev.
Department for Tourism and Cultural Affairs has prepared this booklet in Punjabi and English languages to cater to information needs of 50 lakhs devotees that will throng to pay obeisance at Sultanpur Lodhi. The 30-page booklet has been divided into 11 parts including blueprint of events, historical importance of Sultanpur Lodhi, railway, air and road connectivity to reach Sultanpur Lodhi, places to visit, facilities available for pilgrims, important administrative telephone numbers, Punjab government’s developmental works initiated in Sultanpur Lodhi, do’s and dont’s during the celebrations and various informative social media links have been listed. The booklet, available free of cost at the help desks in Sultanpur Lodhi, also carries information about 70 villages and cities that are associated with Guru Nanak Dev. Arrangements have been made for lodging in tents for the devotees besides providing dedicated parking places, shuttle facility for devotees etc.
PUNJAB BHAWAN AT DELHI DECORATED WITH LIGHTS
The administration of Punjab Bhawan, New Delhi, has decorated the building with lights to mark the 550th parkash purb of great Guru, founder of Sikhism. The administration has also installed hoardings related with celebrations of 550th parkash purb of Guru Nanak Dev to make more and more people aware of celebrations to revere the teachings and philosophy of the great Guru. Besides, the administration has also illuminated the Kapurthala House, the official residences of both Punjab Chief Minister and Punjab Governor in the national Capital.
“As Punjab Bhawan administratively represents the State in the national capital and witnesses visits of prominent personalities from various walks of life, both the blocks of Bhawan, main entrance and exit gates and other parts of Bhawan have been illuminated with LED lights so that more and more people in the national capital should be aware of the ongoing events on part of the Punjab Government to make the celebrations of parkash purb memorable for all times,” said Punjab Bhawan, New Delhi, Resident Commissioner Rakhee Gupta Bhandari.