SAD slams Sidhu for calling Sikh museum a white elephant
CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday condemned Punjab tourism minister Navjot Sidhu for allegedly terming ‘Virasat-i-Khalsa’, a Sikh museumin Anandpur Sahib, as a white elephant.
In a statement here, former minister and SAD spokesman Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said Sidhu had insulted Sikhism and Sikhs worldwide by referring to the ‘Virasat–i-Khalsa’ as a white elephant. Asking Sidhu to apologise to the Sikh community immediately, Cheema said such slurs would not be tolerated at any cost.
Stating that Sidhu needed to be educated on Sikhism as well as the monument which he wanted to turn into a commercial entity, Cheema said the structure was conceived by former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal to commemorate 500 years of Sikh history as well as 300 years of the birth of the Khalsa.
He said one of the world’s leading architects – Moshe Safdie — was roped in for the project which has now emerged as one of the leading heritage museums of the world.
“Sidhu must understand the great service the museum is doing by showcasing the state’s rich history and culture. This cannot be measured in terms of money. Any attempt to turn Virasat-i-Khalsa into a commercial entity will be a disservice to Punjab and its people”, he added. The former minister also asked Sidhu not to treat governance like a comedy circus.