Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 1

As part of the 400th Prakash Purb celebrations of Guru Teg Bahadur, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today dedicated several development projects to the people, including conservation and development of Old Jail at Bassi Pathana where the ninth Guru along with his supporters was imprisoned by Noor Mohammad Khan Mirza for 40 days while on his way to meet Aurangzeb.

The CM said the state had sent a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking Rs 938.37 crore grant for various infrastructure projects in the state as part of the celebrations.

The CM announced facelift of Guru Teg Bahadur Museum, Anandpur Sahib, at a cost of Rs 2 crore, with illumination of its façade and modernisation of the first floor with advanced technology, while retaining the original concept of exhibition of paintings on the ground floor. The museum, built in 1977 near Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, is the only one in the state dedicated to the ninth Guru.

A nature park would be developed in the vicinity of Virasat-e-Khalsa, Anandpur Sahib, at a cost of Rs 10 crore, the CM said, adding it would be spread over 62 acres with extensive tree plantation. To be developed as a habitat for rare species of flora, it was likely to be commissioned by the year-end. Capt Amarinder said the Centre would soon release a commemorative stamp on the 400th Prakash Purb.

The CM said infrastructure projects worth Rs 20.50 crore were under execution at Baba Bakala and Anandpur Sahib, associated with the life and times of the Guru. Further, 103 Charan Chhoh places, including 79 villages and 24 towns, connected with the Guru had been identified and given grants worth Rs 50 lakh per village and Rs 1 crore per town for infrastructure development, he added.

He said over 60 lakh saplings had been planted at 6,986 villages as part of the celebrations. Earlier, more than 70 lakh saplings were planted to mark the 550th Prakash Purb celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev.

SGPC to make Documentary on ninth Guru

• SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur said the committee would compose a video documentary on the Guru, highlighting his life from birth to martyrdom
• She said Bani of the ninth Guru and Guru Granth Sahib would be published in five languages and celluloids on Sikh personalities who were his contemporaries will also be prepared
• A chair in the Guru’s name will be established at the Guru Granth Sahib World University. Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Harpreet Singh said a hospital should be established to mark the occasion

Facelift of jail, museum

• Old Jail, Bassi Pathana, where Guru was imprisoned while on his way to meet Aurangzeb, to be developed
• Guru Teg Bahadur Museum, Anandpur Sahib, to be facelifted at a cost of Rs 2 crore
• Nature park to be developed near Virasat-e-Khalsa, Anandpur Sahib, at a cost of Rs10 crore

CM joins ‘ardas’ online

• Amid the Covid curbs, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh virtually joined people in offering ‘ardas’ of ‘Charhdi Kala’ and ‘Sarbat Da Bhala’ on Saturday
• He exhorted people to follow Guru’s universal message of love, secularism, religious tolerance, freedom of faith and peaceful co-existence