The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today held a series of meetings, here at Punjab Bhawan, with the senior leaders of the SAD-BJP included Cabinet Ministers, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, MLAs besides the officers of the state government to finalize the arrangements for the celebrations of 350th foundation day of Sri Anandpur Sahib.Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister Office said that Mr. Badal 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. He said that elaborate arrangements have been made to elicit the participation of over one lakh devotees from across the state, which would be ferried at the historic place in a fleet over 3000 buses. He said that this mega event was being organized on the completion of 350 years of Sri Anandpur Sahib- the city of bliss. Mr. Badal said that the holy city of Sri Anandpur Sahib has the privilege of having been founded by the Ninth Guru, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji in 1665, who sacrificed his life to uphold human dignity and human rights adding that this revered place was also the birthplace of Khalsa as in the year 1699 the tenth master of Sikhs Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji laid the foundation of Khalsa Panth at this sacred land on the historic day of Baisakhi.
The Chief Minister said that this year June 19 marks the completion of 350 years of coming of this holy town in existence so the state government was commemorating this gala event from June 17-19 with all its humility and enthusiasm to pay glorious tributes to the great legacy of this historic town in a befitting manner. Mr. Badal said that this was a special event for the Punjabis as the Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi, several Union Ministers, Chief Ministers of other states and other dignitaries would take part in this function on June 19.Likewise, the Chief Minister said that in line with the ideology of Sikhism regarding secularism and Unity in Diversity the leaders of all the religions have also been invited in this mega event. He said that highly revered religious leader from across the globe would participate in this mega event. Mr. Badal 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.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister deputed the Education Minister and Secretary Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema and his Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema to overall supervise the arrangements and ensure comfortable night stay of the people arriving at Sri Anandpur Sahib during these days.Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included Cabinet Ministers Dr. Daljeet Singh Cheema, Mr. Sohan Singh Thandal, Mr. Sikander Singh Maluka and Mr. Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Rajya Sabha MPs Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Mr. Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Mr. Avinash Rai Khanna, Lok Sabha MP Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra, Advisor to Chief Minister on National Affairs and Media Mr. Harcharan Bains, Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Tishan Sud, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Sant Balbir Singh Ghunas, Mrs. Nesara Khatoon, Mr. Sarup Chand Singla and Babu Parkash Chand Garg, former MP Bibi Paramjeet Kaur Gulshan, senior Akali leader Mr. Darbara Singh Guru and Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema.