Form committee to oversee Guru Tegh Bahadur's 400th birth anniversary celebrations: Amarinder urges PM

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to set up a national level committee to oversee year-long celebrations of Guru Tegh Bahur's 400th birth anniversary, an official statement said here on Monday.

In a letter to prime minister, Singh said Punjab government will celebrate historic occasion with a series of programmes throughout year, beginning April 2020, it said.

He said his government is in process of drawing up a detailed proposal for commemoration of this mega event and it will be sent to government of India shortly.

Describing 400th 'Parkash Purab' of Guru Tegh Bahur as a fortunate occasion for all, Singh said ninth Sikh guru occupies a special place in country's history.

Guru Tegh Bahur sacrificed his life to uphold principles of religious freedom and amity and was, refore, rightfully called 'Hind-di-Chaar', he said.

Punjab government has alrey decided to commemorate Guru Tegh Bahur's 400th birth anniversary on April 18, 2021, with year-long celebrations beginning April 12 this year, statement said.

It has also planned to organise a mega function on his 399th 'Parkash Purab' at historic town of Baba Bakala and concluding function on his 400th birth anniversary at Anandpur Sahib, statement ded.

Guru Tegh Bahur was born on April 1, 1621. He resisted forced conversions of Hindus, Kashmiri Pandits and n-Muslims to Islam and was killed in 1675 on orders of n Mughal emperor in Delhi.

(Im Credit: PTI)