Khalsa Panth nation’s security shield: Rajnath

Tribune News Service

Fatehgarh Sahib, June 26

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today drew a parallel between Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s crusade against tyranny and the sacrifices made by the security forces in their battle against cross-border terrorism.

Rajnath, who was here to take part in a function to mark the 300th anniversary of the Sikh warrior’s martyrdom, said the country needed brave youths to face various challenges.

He said history bore testimony to the fact that the Khalsa Panth was like a security shield for the nation. Rajnath called upon historians to highlight the life and times of Banda Bahadur. Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said Banda Bahadur’s sacrifice had laid the foundation of the Indian freedom movement.

He said Punjab had not only preserved the legacy of the Sikh Panth but also of other religions and communities, referring to the existing or upcoming memorials such as the Virasat-e-Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib, Jang-e-Azadi monument at Kartarpur (Jalandhar), Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sathal at Amritsar and Guru Ravidass Memorial at Khuralgarh (Hoshiarpur). Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said the state government was planning to launch a bus scheme to enable village youths to visit various monuments.