CHANNI URGES SUKHBIR NOT TO POLITICISE BUT TO JOIN HANDS IN 550TH PRAKASH PURB CELEBRATION OF 1ST SIKH GURU

SAYS MODI HAD ALREADY CONFIRMED HIS PARTICIPATION IN THE HISTORIC EVENT TO CAPT AMARINDER GOVT

Chandigarh, July 1, 2019: Punjab Cabinet Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Monday urged SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal not to politice the sacred 550th Prakash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji but to join hands with the state government in ensuring a befitting celebration of the historic event.

Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Channi was reacting to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal’s statement claiming that the Prime Minister had communicated his confirmation to him and other Akali leaders, who met him in New Delhi today.

The Prime Minister had already officially conveyed his confirmation, several days back, to the state government on attending the historic occasion on November 12, 2019, as required by protocol, said Channi. In fact, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had informed Home Minister Amit Shah of the same during their meeting last week, even urging Shah to also join the celebration, the cabinet minister added.

Instead of trying to take credit for the Prime Minister’s decision, Sukhbir should extend all support of the SAD to ensuring that the celebrations are held in the true spirit of unity and harmony propounded by the great Guru, said Channi.

Channi hailed the Chief Minister for taking the lead in sending three ministers to the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, to persuade them to ensure a grand celebration of the first Sikh Guru’s 550th birth anniversary.

Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji was universally revered by people cutting across religions the world over, said Channi, exhorting all political parties to also rise above party lines to give a befitting tribute to the great Guru by joining the celebrations. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) should also join the state government in ensuring the fructification of its plans to make these celebrations truly historic and memorable, said Channi, who also holds the portfolios of Technical Education & Industrial Training, as well as Employment Generation in the Captain Amarinder led state cabinet.