For performing the ardaas for the restoration and rejuvenation of the historic holy shrine, Gurdwara Gian Godari Sahib, to its pristine glory, the Sikh masses on Sunday responded with whole-hearted religious fervour and commitment by turning out in massive numbers.
The call for observing May 14 as ‘ardaas divas’ for the “mission” was given by the Sikhs’ highest temporal seat, Akal Takht, and various religious bodies, institutions, organisations and parties were seen trying to outdo one another in humble sewa and religious fervor.
“The Sikh community has responded with whole-hearted and devout religious passion and dedication. The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) spearheaded the institutional and organizational response to the call for the ardaas divas, each and every worker of the party and office bearers of the SGPC committed themselves to the holy Sikh cause with traditional and impassioned zeal,” said the former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
He said that the Sikh community will carry out this mission most peacefully and democratically but will not flinch from the cause of Sikh sentiments on the issues.
Thanking the entire Sikh community and especially the workers and leaders of the SAD who worked tirelessly for registering the Sikhs’ sentiments on the issue, Badal declared that SAD’s high powered delegation, comprising its senior leaders, would call on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to secure his personal intervention in the matter so that the issue is resolved and Sikh honour is not compromised nor Sikh sentiments hurt in any manner.
SAD president Sukhbir Badal appealed to the entire community, including social and political outfits, to close ranks and present a united Sikh face.
“The jathedar of the supreme religious body of the Sikhs, the sacred Shri Akal Takhat Sahib, has given a call to all factions and the entire Sikh jagat respects his word as the final word on religious issue,” he said.