Anandpur Sahib to have world-class varsity in Guru’s name, says Mann

A day after declaring Sri Anandpur Sahib a holy city during a historic special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday announced the establishment of a world-class university named after Guru Tegh Bahadur in the city.

The announcement came during the concluding ceremony of a sarv dharam sammelan at Guru Ka Bagh, Baba Budha Dal Cantonment, organised by the government to commemorate the 350th martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

Addressing the gathering, Mann said the proposed university would become a global centre for high-quality education, research, interfaith dialogue and studies inspired by the Guru’s message pertaining to human rights, peace and sacrifice.

“Guru Tegh Bahadur laid down his life while defending the right to faith and freedom. Establishing a world-class university in his name is the least we can do to inspire future generations with his teachings,” Mann said.

Mann announced the world-class university for Anandpur Sahib after the national convener of AAP, Arvind Kejriwal, who was also present there, urged him to announce the project for the area.

Addressing the gathering, Kejriwal praised the government for making arrangements for the 350th martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur at Anandpur Sahib.

Resentment had been brewing in Anandpur Sahib since yesterday after the government, in its historic Assembly session organised in the city, did not announce any developmental project for the area except for declaring Anandpur Sahib a holy city.

The AAP MLA from Anandpur Sahib and Minister for Education and Public Relations, Harjot Singh Bains, was also reportedly unhappy as no developmental project was announced for the area.

The CM also announced to spur up the Charan Ganga stadium in Anandpur Sahib for making it a destination for martial arts training for the youth. He also announced a free local bus service for devotees at the three holy cities announced yesterday — Anandpur Sahib, Amritsar Walled City and Talwandi Sabo.

The CM said the Punjab Government was committed to developing Anandpur Sahib not only as a spiritual capital but also as a centre of academic excellence and global learning. He said the announcement formed part of a broader vision for infrastructural and cultural uplift of the area. Mann said more development decisions would follow in harmony with the sentiments of devotees visiting the birthplace of the Khalsa.

The Sarv Dharam Sammelan, organised as part of the ongoing week-long commemorative events, brought together prominent leaders and spiritual representatives of various faiths.

Local MLA Bains thanked the government for making Anandpur Sahib the focal point of the historic commemorations and said the sammelan successfully spread the message of unity among all religions. He said the declaration of Anandpur Sahib as a holy city and the plan for a world-class university were long-pending demands of the region.