PunjabChief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday urged Prime Minister NarendraModi to clear the state government’s proposal for launching various projectsworth Rs 937 crores, including the development of Sri Anandpur Sahib as SmartCity, to pay befitting tributes to 9th Guru Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, whose400th Prakash Purab is being celebrated this year.
Participatingvirtually in the high-level national committee meeting, convened by the PrimeMinister to finalise plans for celebration of the 400th Prakash Purab, theChief Minister said, “we are all fortunate to celebrate this great event in ourlifetimes and I urge Modi ji to ensure that this historic event is commemoratednot only at national but at a global level”.
He said Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, alsoknown as Hind Di Chadar, stands as a shining symbol of our country’s greatpluralistic tradition and secularism, and his supreme sacrifice – ‘sis diya parsirr na diya’ - forms an important part of India’s history.
Thechief Minister said that he was “blessed” as during his present tenure he hadgot the opportunity to be part of the grand celebrations of the 350th birthanniversary of Guru Gobind Singh ji and the 550th Prakash Purab of Guru NanakDev ji also. “Even during my last tenure, I was fortunate to be part of thecelebrations of the 400th anniversary of Guru Granth Sahib ji”, he said.
Briefingthe Prime Minister on the memorandum sent to the centre in this regard, CaptainAmarinder said his government plans to duly recognise the towns and villagesassociated with the life of Guru Sahib in the state by upgrading their infrastructure.Besides the city of Amritsar, the town of Sri Anandpur Sahib and Baba Bakalaare significant in this regard, he said. In addition, he said that there are 78villages in the state graced by the Guru (charan chho prapt).
CaptainAmarinder said the proposal sent by the state government includes projects fordevelopment of infrastructure in and around Sri Anandpur Sahib, Amritsar andBaba Bakala; rejuvenation of village ponds and traditional water bodies forWater Conservation in 78 Punjab villages that were visited by the Guru; andsetting up Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur School of Textile Technology and Sri Guru TeghBahadur Institute of Handicrafts at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, andSathiala, Baba Bakala, respectively.
TheChief Minister further requested the Prime Minister that the Union Governmentshould release a special commemorative stamp on this occasion. He suggestedthat the commemorative events should be held all across the country, as well asat all Indian missions abroad, in order to carry the powerful message of SriGuru Tegh Bahadur’s life.
CaptainAmarinder informed the Prime Minister that the details of the main programme onMay 1 are being finalised, keeping in mind the Covid situation in the countryand particularly in Punjab.
Thechief minister thanked the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, Amit Shah, formaking elaborate plans for celebrations of this historic event across thecountry. “I’m grateful to you for giving such prominence to this event, asnormally it is left to the state or communities to manage such celebrations”,he said while also appreciating Haryana Chief Minister’s assurance oforganising befitting celebrations in his state too.
Besidesthe Prime Minister and the Home Minister, former Prime Minister, Dr. ManmohanSingh, Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla and Union Defence Minister, Rajnath Singhand Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge also participated in the virtualmeeting.
It may be mentioned that the high-level national committee wasconstituted by the Union Government on October 24 last year, to approvepolicies, plans and programmes related to the commemoration of the 400thPrakash Purab of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. The committee comprises 70 members,with Prime Minister as its Chairman.