JALANDHAR:
Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday reviewed the arrangements for the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of the founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev, promising full support of the government in making it a memorable event.
During the review meeting in Sultanpur Lodhi town of
Kapurthala district at a local stadium, Amarinder said his government had made a budgetary provision of Rs 100 crore for the arrangements, to ensure that the celebrations are held at an unprecedented scale, befitting of the historic occasion.
“Concerted efforts were already afoot to give a complete facelift to the holy city of Sultanpur Lodhi, and Rs 10 crore had been sanctioned for the holistic development of the city,” he said. The chief minister directed the officials of various departments to ensure time-bound completion of all arrangements. He told the officials that no laxity in this regard should be allowed. Earlier, Sultanpur Lodhi MLA Navtej Singh
Cheema welcomed the chief minister to the town.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included Lok Sabha MP and
Punjab Congress president
Sunil Jakhar, former Punjab CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and former Punjab minister Joginder Singh Mann as well as senior officials of the district.
Cheema blames Centre for lack of assistance
Chandigarh: Sultanpur Lodhi MLA Navtej Singh Cheema has rued the fact that the Centre has not promised any special financial assistance for the 550th birth anniversary celebration programmes despite chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh writing to Prime Minister
Narendra Modi in that regard. “It will be a special occasion and Sultanpur Lodhi will be at the centrestage, especially at places associated with the life of Guru Nanak. The CM had urged the PM to personally head the committee, which should be set up under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Culture, to give a sense of purpose to the preparatory efforts for this historic event,” he said.
Amarinder Singh (File photo)