Refuting the allegations of Government interference in the affairs of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday said that SGPC was a separate entity and it was completely free to take decisions regarding Sikh religious affairs being an autonomous body.
He said that the canards regarding his interference in the affairs of SGPC were totally baseless, irrelevant and misleading. Interacting with the mediapersons on the sidelines of a cultural event organised by Chief Khalsa Diwan here, the CM said that keeping in view the larger public interest, the State Government would examine the feasibility of banning Chinese string (kite dor) in the State.
He said that in wake of number of mishaps due to this string, the State Government would explore the possibility of prohibiting it in the State. Addressing a gathering at the event, CM underscored the need for imparting quality education to the weaker sections of society. He urged chief Khalsa Diwan to make concerted efforts to spread the light of knowledge amongst the poor students so that they could compete with the students from across the globe. Badal also laid thrust on providing education to the students of border areas so that they could be benefitted from it. “The State Government is already making stupendous efforts in this regard but fulsome support of organisations like chief Khalsa Diwan can do wonders in it” he added.
The CM said that to ensure best education facilities to economically weak students, Punjab Government has established meritorious schools at Mohali, Bathinda, ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Patiala to provide quality education to bright students scoring 80% or more marks in Government schools.
He further said that the Government has made concerted efforts to preserve its rich cultural legacy by building world class monuments including state-of-the-art Virasat-e-Khalsa memorial at Sri Anandpur Sahib, memorials of Vadda and Chhota Ghallugharas in Kup Rahira and Kahnuwan respectively besides Baba Banda Singh Bahadur War memorial at Chappar Chiri and Maharaja Dalip Singh Memorial at Bassian Kothi, Raikot in ludhiana at a cost of nearly Rs 1000 crore to immortalize the memory of the great and unparalleled role played by our great heroes and martyrs in shaping the course of human history.
likewise, memorials of Bhagwan Valmiki (Bhagwan Valmik Tirath Sthal Amritsar), Guru Ravidass (at Khuralgarh in Hoshiarpur),Swami Vivekananda Memorial at Kapurthala, Baba Jiwan Singh (Bhai Jaita Ji) Memorial at Sri Anandpur Sahib, Baba Moti Ram Mehra Memorial at Fatehgarh Sahib and Bhai Mati Dass, Bhai Sati Dass and Bhai Dayala Ji Memorial at Sri Anandpur Sahib besides state-of-the-art War Heroes’ Memorial-cum-Museum at Amritsar and Jang-e-Azaadi memorial at Kartarpur were under various stages of execution, he added.