The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab senior leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Harpal Singh Cheema in his address during the special session of the Punjab Assembly dedicated to the 400th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji, said that the path laid down by the ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur ji, has become even more significant and meaningful in the present times.Harpal Singh Cheema said, “There is a wide range of meanings to Guru Tegh Bahadur ji being called the ‘Hind di Chadar’. Guru Tegh Bahadur's aim was not only to take mankind out of rituals and unite them with an Akal Purakh, but also to raise his voice against the atrocities being perpetrated by the then Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.”Cheema further said, “The life and teachings of Guru Tegh Bahadur have become even more meaningful today as the tyranny of the rulers persists like the Mughal period. The danger of religious fanaticism is at its peak. The gap between caste, creed and social inequality is widening. Mutual harmony and social brotherhood are also facing huge challenges.” Cheema said we have to remember that the solution to all these problems and challenges lies in the ideology of the ninth Guru, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji.
Addressing the media after the Assembly session, Harpal Singh Cheema said that prior to the commencement of the session, in the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) headed by Speaker Rana KP Singh, he (Cheema) had reiterated his demand for a 15-day session after the one-day special session, on which the government has assured to convene the session again. He said after 10 years of mafia rule of the Badals, the useless rule of the ruling Congress for four-and-a-half-years had destitute Punjab and troubled the people. “Although the ruling Congress is always on the lookout to run away from all burning issues, the government will not be allowed to run away now,” he added.Harpal Singh Cheema challenged Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu that if he is truly benevolent to Punjab, then he should show the courage to get the Private Member’s Bill brought by MLA Aman Arora on behalf of the Aam Aadmi Party passed; for revoking Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and for setting up a Liquor Corporation. During the special session of the Punjab Assembly, AAP MLA and Deputy Leader of Opposition Saravjit Kaur Manuke, MLAs Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Prof Baljinder Kaur, Aman Arora, Meet Hayer, Principal Budh Ram, Rupinder Kaur Ruby, Jai Singh Rodi, Manjit Singh Bilaspur, Kulwant Singh Pandori, Master Baldev Singh, Jagtar Singh Hissowal and Amarjit Singh Sandoa were also present.