TALWANDI SABO OCTOBER 20 :Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today extended his greetings to the Sikhs all over the world on the auspicious occasion of Tercentenary of Guru-ta-Gaddi Divas of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Mr. Badal was addressing a historic congregation of devotees from allover the country and abroad here at Takhat Sri Damdama Sahib during a function organized by SGPC in commemoration of the worldwide celebrations of the 300th Guru-ta-Gaddi Divas of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Speaking on the occasion Mr, Badal said that today we all should offer our deep and sincere gratitude to Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji for blessing us with such a wonderful creation in the form of a Holi Granth as our eleventh Guru. He said that Sri Guru Granth Sahib, completed earlier by Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji in 1604 at Amritsar had been finalized here on the poised soil of Talwandi Sabo by Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji in 1706 and installed later in 1706 as the living and Eternal Guru for the Sikhs at Nanded (Maharahshtra). He said that Sri Guru Granth Sahib is a Matchless Divine Treasure of the whole global community and a glory of spiritual harmony.
Mr. Badal exhorted the people to draw inspiration from Sri Guru Granth Sahib and follow the teachings & ideology of our great Gurus to carve out an ideal society with equal rights for everyone regardless of caste, colour and creed. "Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji is the only solution to all the problems that has griped the entire world today with a sense of hatred and mistrust, which must be replaced by love and faith at all costs with the blessings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib", said Mr. Badal.
Referring to the economic disparity between the rich & poor that had resulted the problems of hunger, unemployment, illiteracy and caused wide spread pain anger and unrest in the minds of the poor and underprivileged section of the society, the Chief Minister called upon all the Political, Social and Educational organizations to follow the path of ‘Secularism’ as shown by Sri Guru Granth Sahib. He said that the composition of Sri Guru Granth Sahib with holy hymns of 36 divine Gurus and Saints from the length and breadth of Indian sub-continent characterized it as one of the most unique and secular creations of the universe. He hoped that to make us an ideal citizens of the society only the eternal message of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji could plant a deep-rooted feeling in the minds of the people.
On this occasion, Mr. Badal also released a prestigious publication of Information Public Relations Department Punjab titled ‘So Said Guru Arjan Dev’ – a work first of its kind based on the teaching of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji in the form of a dictionary of thoughts, edited by Dr. Harnam Singh Shan , a Renowned Sikhs Scholar along with a souvenir published by SGPC. Mr. Badal also disbursed the cheques to the intelligent disserving students as scholarship under Rs. 30 lakh Scholarship Scheme launched by SGPC for providing financial assistance to poor intelligent students.
Earlier, Mr. Badal paid obeisance at Takhat Sri Damdama Sahib and received Siropa from Jathedar of Takhat Sri Damdama Bhai Sahib Bhai Balwant Singh Nandgarh.
Later, addressing the Media persons Mr. Badal made it clear that there was no enhancement of cess on cotton. Regarding the development programmes being implemented in the state by SAD-BJP government, Mr. Badal said that they would achieve high target of multifaceted development within 3 to 4 years that had never been dreamed by Congress in the past history of 61 years. Mr. Badal said that the anti-economic and destructive behaviour of Congress had dragged the country to a situation that about 20 crore people are suffering from hunger today in the country.
Prominent amongst those who greeted the people on this auspicious occasion included Bhai Sahib Bhai Balwant Singh Nandgarh Jathedar Takhat Sri Damdama Singh, Giani Gurbachan Singh Jathedar Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, Giani Tirlochan Singh Jathedar Takhat Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Sant Baba Harnam Singh Dhuma, Head of Damdami Taksal, Nihang Baba Balbir Singh Budha Dal, Baba Nihal Singh, Harian Belan Wale, Sant Baba Saroop Singh (Bidhi Chand), Local Government Minister Mr. Manoranjan Kalia, Mr. Tota Singh and Shikander Singh Maluka (both former Ministers) and Sh. Avtar Singh Makkar,President, SGPC.