CM wants SGPC on board for Gurpurb celebrations

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 20

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday asked the Group of Ministers (GoMs) to approach the SGPC for support to the state government’s celebration of the 550th Parkash Purb of Guru Nanak on a common platform.

Chairing the meeting of the Executive Committee for the commemoration of celebrations, the CM expressed his keenness to organise the mega event in unison with the participation of the SGPC and other religious organisations in a befitting manner, in line with Guru Nanak Dev universal message of love, peace, harmony and brotherhood.

The Chief Minister also mandated the GoM to extend a formal invite to the Jathedar of Akal Takht and SGPC president to seek their wholehearted support, cooperation and guidance for celebrating the historic occasion.

The GoM, comprising Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Medical Education and Research Minister OP Soni and Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, has already been constituted to review the day-to-day progress of the preparations and development projects and schemes associated with the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak.

The CMalso asked the GoM to finalise 10-day itinerary from November 5 to 15 in consultation with representatives of the SGPC. The SGPC has also showed inclination to support the state government on the issue.

The CMdirected the Chief Secretary to finalise the modalities and funding pattern for the proposed ‘Guru Nanak Dev Marg’ (Sultanpur Lodhi-Kapurthala-Kartarpur-Beas-Mehta-Batala (including bypass)-Dera Baba Nanak), covering 136 km, inclusive upgrading to 10-m width, involving expenditure of Rs 96.15 crore.