Amritsar, April 3, 2021 (Yes Punjab News)
To make the 400th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji commemorative, a meeting of the representatives of all Sikh organizations, sampradas has been convened today as per the instructions of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Bibi Jagir Kaur.
The gathering was attended by prominent Sikh personalities, heads of various organisations, sampradas and SGPC office bearers, members and officials.
On this occasion, the representatives of different Sikh organisations shared their suggestions, ideas and vision related to celebration of the 400th birth anniversary of the ninth Guru.
Giani Harpreet Singh, Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib in his address said that the 400th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji is being celebrated by the entire panth on Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahal, Sri Amritsar on May 1.
“At the time of the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, communalism was rampant in the country. The rulers of the time were forcibly converting Hindus. The ninth Guru defended the religion by giving his martyrdom. Even today an atmosphere of communalism is being created in the country and minorities were being oppressed under the patronage of the government which is not right.
Seeds of hatred are being sown in the minds of people of one religion against the people of other religion. Those few bad elements which are doing this possess the patronage of the government. I appeal to the entire Sikh panth to unite at the time when attacks are being launched directly and indirectly.”
Jathedar Akal Takht Sahib also appealed to the panth to attend the centenary celebrations in large numbers.
Meanwhile, Giani Jagtar Singh, head granthi of Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib, welcomed all the Sikh organisations that attend the meeting. He urged all the organizations to conduct Gurmat Samagams (religious programmes) in their respective areas dedicated to celebrate 400th birth anniversary of the Ninth Patshah Ji.
On this occasion Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa, head of Damdami Taksal in his address said that while celebrating the centenary of the Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji, all should join hands and launch a movement to protect the environment by making the surrounding clean and growing more trees. He expressed the commitment to extend all possible cooperation to SGPC for the centenary celebrations.
SGPC senior vice-president S. Surjit Singh Bhitewad said that various Gurmat Samagams dedicated to the 400th centenary of the ninth Guru are being organised. It was under this that a huge Nagar Kirtan was started from Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahal, to which there is great enthusiasm among the sangat.
He said that the rest of the centenary celebrations would also be memorable. He said that whatever suggestions were made by all the representatives of Sikh organisation during today’s meeting, the SGPC would try to implement them after thorough analysation.
In his address, SGPC general secretary Adv Bhagwant Singh Sialka said that we are fortunate to have the opportunity to celebrate the 400th birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. He said that on this occasion we should make concerted efforts to spread the ideology of Guru Sahib Ji on a global scale.
Meanwhile, Baba Avtar Singh Sursingh head of Baba Bidhi Chand Nihung organisation, Bhai Sukhjit Singh Kanhaiya, Baba Sewa Singh of Khadur Sahib, Baba Budh Singh Nikkeghuman, Bhai Rajinder Singh Mehta, Prin Mahal Singh of Khalsa College, S. Ajit Singh Basra of Chief Khalsa Diwan, Baba Jagjit Singh, Baba Gurdial Singh Tandewale, Baba Atma Singh and other prominent personalities also gave their suggestions for the centenary celebrations.
At the gathering, representatives of Sant Samaaj, Nihung, Kar Sewa organisations jointly passed a resolution expressing their commitment and assured of all sough of cooperation to the celebrations to be held on the occasion of the 400th birth centenary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji. They said that whatever services and responsibilities the SGPC would give to them, all Sikh organisation would perform them responsibly.
Meanwhile, the resolution passed by the general house meeting of the SGPC during recent budget session against the interference of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) into other religions has been unanimously approved by all the Sikh organizations.
SGPC chief secretary Adv Harjinder Singh Dhami managed the stage, and graced the occasion on behalf of Baba Nihal Singh Harian Velan Tarna Dal.
A large number of representatives of Sikh organisations were present in the meeting.
