Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday assured British Deputy High Commissioner Andrew Ayre of full logistic support by his government to the people of Indian origin settled in UK for visiting Punjab to pay obeisance at Sultanpur Lodhi on the historic occasion of the 550th parkash purb (birth anniversary) of Sikhs’ first master, Guru Nanak Dev.
The Chief Minister promised Ayre, who called on the former on Monday afternoon, that he would personally urge the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to direct the Indian High Commissioner in UK to be liberal in the grant of visa to Indian origin people, particularly the Punjabi diaspora, for the mega event.
The State Government had already initiated preparations on mass scale, especially in the holy city of Sultanpur Lodhi where the first Sikh Guru had attained enlightenment and had spent almost 17 years of his life, said the Chief Minister, adding that other places associated with the founder of Sikhism, such as Batala and Dera Baba Nanak, were also being spruced up for the occasion.
Ayre informed the Chief Minister that several delegations from UK were keen to visit Punjab to participate in the historic event. He thanked the Chief Minister’s for offering support to facilitate such people.