House meets to mark Guru Teg Bahadur’s 400th Parkash Purb
CM underlines need to spread ideology of the Guru to promote peace, harmony, secularism and coexistence
CHANDIGARH : The Punjab assembly on Friday held a special one-day session to commemorate the 400th Prakash Purb (birth anniversary) of Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru.
Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh underlined the need to spread the ideology of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib around the world to promote peace, harmony, secularism and coexistence, values which the Guru Sahib upheld through his supreme sacrifice.
“Our gurus were willing to lay down their lives for humanity. Serving humanity should be the prime objective in spite of diverse political thoughts,” the CM, adding, “I trust that through this August House, we can reiterate the message of universal peace.”
Referring to infrastructure projects for major towns associated with the ninth Guru., the CM said that Baba Bakala had been upgraded from a gram panchayat into a municipal town, with special plans afoot for Anandpur Sahib.
He added that 103 places blessed with the Guru Sahib’s visit (Charan Chhoh) during his life have been identified in 79 villages and 24 towns of the state. A development grant of Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore for each such village and town has been sanctioned.
Governor Banwari Lal Purohit, who visited the assembly for the first time after taking charge, said, “The saga of Guru Teg Bahadur ji offers the symbolism of the highest sacrifice and the finest expression of spiritual faith.”
In his keynote address, former chief justice of India Justice JS Khehar said that by reflecting on the Guru, we can achieve all nine spiritual and worldly sources of wealth.
Assembly speaker Rana KP Singh read out greetings sent by Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, and vice-president Venkaiah Naidu.
Concluding the special session, the leader of opposition Harpal Singh Cheema thanked all present, adding that the teachings of the Guru remained relevant even today.
SAD seeks voting on sine die adjournment
Claiming that the Congress, particularly its legislative group, is divided into factions, former Shiromani Akali Dal minister Bikram Singh Majithia demanded voting in the House on the matter.
After the session concluded, parliamentary affairs minister Brahm Mohindra moved a resolution for adjourning the House sine die (without any future date being designated), on which Majithia demanded voting.
The speaker, however, turned down this suggestion.
Obituary references for 21 personalities
Before the start of the special session, the assembly paid tributes to 21 persons who had passed away since the last meeting of the House. Those named in the obituary references included Olympian Milkha Singh; former union minister of state RL Bhatia; former ministers in the state cabinet Gurnam Singh Abul Khurana, Gulzar Singh, Surjit Kaur Kalkat, Chaudhari Radha Krishan and Inderjit Singh Zira; centenarian athlete Man Kaur; former IAS officer YS Ratra among others.
AAP demands 15-day assembly session
Leader of opposition (LoP) Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday demanded a 15-day session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to discuss important issues of the state.
Cheema said prior to the commencement of this session, he had, in the business advisory committee headed by speaker Rana KP Singh, reiterated his demand for a 15-day session after the one-day session, on which the government had assured to convene it again.