Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal on Wednesday disclosed that 300th martyrdom day functions of great Sikh general and founder of Khalsa Raj Baba Banda Singh Bahadur would be observed on a grand scale. He said that these functions commencing May 20 at Gurdas Nangal (Gurdaspur) would continue till one month. During the course of these functions, nagar kirtans dedicated to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, exhibition of ancient weaponry, poetic recitals, seminars would be held at various places besides a marathon at New Delhi, he said while adding that the Punjab Government would organize a grand function on May 20. Divulging more, Sukhbir said that a function on large scale would be organized in near future at Chapparchiri (Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar) also.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consented to attend the function in this regard to be held at New Delhi in the last week of June. The highlight of this function would be the presentation of a programme with the aid of ultramodern techniques and a kirtan darbar would be held in front of the Qutab Minar, where Baba Banda Singh Bahadur was martyred, on June 24,” he said. Sukhbir, presiding over a high level meeting regarding preparations for 300th martyrdom day functions, said that the Punjab Government would whole heartedly co-operate with and extend every possible help to the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC).
No stone would be left unturned to make the functions, which would continue till June 30, a success. He also called for the constitution of a committee of experts comprising administrative officers from Punjab, SGPC, DSGMC and Sikh scholars so as to prepare a roadmap for these functions within one week. He also reviewed preparations for the functions to be organized to commemorate the 350th Parkash Purab celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh and 50th anniversary of Punjabi Suba. He exhorted the officers as well as SGPC and DSGMC leaders to start preparations in the right earnest for these functions which would continue till January 2017.