Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday accepted the invitation of Dera Ballan management committee to flag off the train from Jalandhar city station to Benaras on February 2 for commemorating parkash purab of Sri Guru Ravidass ji.
The Chief Minister, during interaction with a delegation of Dera Ballan Management committee here at his official residence, said that it is a matter great pride for him to be a part of this mega event.
He also lauded the philanthropic activities being carried out by Dera Ballan for the people especially from the weaker and underprivileged sections of society. Bhagwant Mann said that he will participate in the event as a humble devotee and seek blessings from the head of Dera Ballan Sant Niranjan Dass ji.
The Chief Minister also announced that the state government will celebrate the upcoming parkash purab of Sri Guru Ravidass ji will full enthusiasm and religious gaiety. Bhagwant Mann said that he along with his Cabinet colleagues will participate in this function at Jalandhar on February 5.
He said that Sri Guru Ravidass Ji gave the message of welfare of entire humanity, equality of all the sections of the society thus creating a society based on egalitarian values.
Dwelling on another issue, the Chief Minister said that the state government will soon release funds to establish state-of-the-art Guru Ravidass Bani Adhiyan (Research) Centre at Ballan.
He said that the previous government had merely done lip service over the project and had not bothered to release the funds for it. However, Bhagwant Mann said that these funds will be released soon as this Adhiyan Centre will go a long way to undertake extensive research and study of the Bani of Sri Guru Ravidass ji, besides propagating the teachings of Sri Guru Ravidass ji in every nook and corner of the world.
The Chief Minister envisioned this Centre as a lighthouse for further perpetuating the ideology of Sri Guru Ravidass ji. He said that this centre will play a pivotal role in facilitating the students and research scholars studying the life and philosophy of Guru ji and to undertake research on the various aspects of sacred Bani of Sri Guru Ravidass ji.
Bhagwant Mann also assured fulsome support and cooperation to Dera Management for their every endeavour aimed at the well being of SC brethren in the state.