Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the event at Red Fort to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur. (BJP/Twitter)Guru Tegh Bahadur anniversary highlights: Addressing an event from the Red Fort on Thursday to mark the 401st birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government is making efforts to connect pilgrimages of Sikh tradition. He lauded the dedication of the Sikh community and pushed for a self-reliant India. Following the Shabad Kirtan earlier, Modi released a postal stamp and a commemorative coin on the Sikh guru. Guru Tegh Bahadur is the ninth Sikh guru who stood up against forcible conversions by the Mughals.
The PM’s address marks the culmination of a two-day mega event being organised by the ministry at Red Fort, in collaboration with the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy said.
The BJP has been trying to reach out to the Sikh community ever since it decided to go it alone in the Punjab Assembly elections following the breakdown of the old alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal over the three farm laws. The PM had chosen to announce the repeal of the laws on Guru Nanak Jayanti last November. In neighbouring Haryana, the party has planned a series of events to mark the occasion, including a grand event in Panipat on April 24.
Govt is making continuous efforts to connect the pilgrimages of Sikh tradition, says PM Modi
This land is not only a country but it is our great heritage, a great tradition, says PM Modi and adds that it has been enriched by "our sages and gurus with hundreds of thousands of years of penance."
Guru Tegh Bahadur’s sacrifice has inspired generations to live and die for the country, says PM
I welcome you all to the celebrations of 400th birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur. The peace I got by listening to Shabad Kirtan now is difficult to express in words, says PM Modi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a postal stamp and a commemorative coin on the Sikh guru on Thursday.
Prime Minister attends the mega event at Red Fort to mark the 401st birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
A multi-layered security ring comprising over 1,000 Delhi Police personnel and those from various agencies has been deployed at the Red Fort, from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on the 400th birth anniversary of Sikh guru Tegh Bahadur on Thursday, officials said.
More than 100 CCTV cameras have been installed inside the Red Fort compound, they said. According to the officials, the security ring includes NSG snipers, SWAT commandos, kite hunters, canine units and sharpshooters on high-rise buildings.
Amid the surge in Covid cases in the capital, social distancing rules will be mandatory, they said. (PTI)
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday greeted the people on the occasion of 400th birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
In a message, the chief minister called upon the people to follow the eternal message of universal brotherhood, religious freedom and welfare of mankind (Chardikala) as propagated by the ninth Sikh Guru. Throwing light on the life and philosophy of the Guru since his early childhood till he attained martyrdom for the sake of humanity and religious tolerance, Mann said "Guru Ji's supreme sacrifice shall ever remain a beacon of inspiration for the world".
Imploring the people to follow the teachings of the Guru in the right earnest, Mann said that the essence of his message was love, secularism, freedom of faith and peaceful coexistence, which was still relevant in the present times. (PTI)
The inaugural programme will include a laser light show. There will also be an exhibition on the life and times of the Sikh guru at the Red Fort forecourt for two days. After his address, the PM will release a postal stamp and a commemorative coin on the Sikh guru, to be followed by a langar (community kitchen).
Culture Ministry officials said the Red Fort was chosen as the venue for two reasons. "First, it was the place from where Mughal ruler Aurangzeb gave orders for the execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur in 1675. Second, the ramparts of Red Fort is from where the PM addresses the nation on Independence Day, so it's an ideal place to reach out to the people with a message of interfaith peace," said an official.
Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, PM Modi said, 'At 9:15 PM tomorrow, 21st April, l will have the honour of taking part in the 400th Parkash Purab celebrations of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji. The programme will be held at the iconic Red Fort. A commemorative coin and postage stamp will also be released.'