Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today reviewed the arrangements for the foundation stone laying ceremony of Sri Guru Ravidass Memorial, to come up at Khuralgarh in Hoshiarpur district at a cost of Rs 125 crore, on April 3, 2016. Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's office said that a meeting in this regard was held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister here at Punjab Bhawan, this morning.Taking part in deliberations, the Chief Minister exhorted the leaders of SAD-BJP and the top brass of the government to elicit huge participation of the people from different walks of life on this historic event. Mr. Badal said that this world class memorial would be a humble but befitting tribute to Sri Guru Ravidass ji, which would act as a lighthouse to perpetuate the life and teachings of this great Guru. He said that Sri Guru Ravidass Ji was a great spiritual ambassador and messiah of the poor and unprivileged sections of the society taught us to lead a virtuous and noble life adding that his life and philosophy still continues to guide humanity towards an egalitarian society.
The Chief Minister said that this memorial would be an architectural marvel, which once completed would have a spacious congregation hall having a capacity to accommodate ten thousand pilgrims and a state-of-the art auditorium equipped with all the modern audio-visual aids to showcase the life works of Guru Ravidass Ji. He said that the auditorium would accommodate nearly 500 pilgrims during any function or event. Mr. Badal further said that the hallmark of this world class memorial would be a tall erected structure ‘Minar-e-Begampura’ which would be of 151 feet high.Terming that Sri Guru Ravidass Memorial would be world class monument, the Chief Minister called upon the people to celebrate this mega event collectively with great enthusiasm thereby rising above the parochial considerations of caste, color, creed and religion in order to demonstrate the ethos of secularism and religious tolerance. Mr. Badal also asked the organizing committee to ensure the participation of the heads of all religious sects besides the eminent spiritual leaders of the country.
Reiterating his firm commitment to perpetuate the glorious cultural heritage of the state, the Chief Minister also announced to dedicate three upcoming state-of-the art monuments Jang-e-Azaadi, War Heroes Memorial and Ram Tirath Temple to the nation in current year.Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included Cultural Affairs Minister Mr. Sohan Singh Thandal, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Mr. Pawan Teenu, Chaudhary Nand Lal, Mr. Som Parkash and Mr. Avinash Chander, MLAs Bibi Jagir Kaur, Mr. Manoranjan Kalia, Mr. Gurpratap Singh Wadala, Mr. Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Mr. Surinder Singh Bhullewal Rathan and Mr. Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Tikshan Sud, Chairman MARKFED Mr. Jarnail Singh Wahid, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. SK Sandhu, former MLA and Chairman District Planning Committee Kapurthala Mr. Sarabjeet Singh Makkar, Chairman District Planning Committee Jalandhar Mr Gurcharan Singh Channi and Director Cultural Affairs Mr. Navjot Pal Singh Randhawa.