Ex-PM Manmohan to join Capt at Sultanpur Lodhi

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Sultanpur Lodhi, November 20

Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will join Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for the launch of 550th Parkash Utsav celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev here on Gurpurb this Friday.

After paying obeisance at Gurdwara Ber Sahib where Guru Nanak meditated for 14 years, the duo will lay the foundation stone of about 30 projects from the rally site near New Grain Market. A team of Special Protection Group has arrived in the town for security arrangements for the rally where a gathering of about 20,000 is expected.

With politics at play between the SAD and Congress over religious events, the Akalis have planned a separate rally at Bhai Mardana Hall at Gurdwara Ber Sahib, where Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore is expected to reach.

Former SGPC chief Jagir Kaur said: “We had extended an invite to the Chief Minister as we wanted a common event of the community here. But I am told that they have separate plans. I do not think that this will send out a good message, especially since Guru Nanak was always for unity even among different religions.”

Local Congress MLA Navtej Cheema said preparations for the mega event next year had already begun on ground. He said despite massive construction work going on, the town with about 16,000 population stood spic and span. Thanks to the thousands of devotees ascending here, carrying brooms in their hands and cleaning roads, road sides, gurdwaras and other public places, he said.

Several Sikh groups have started kar sewa outside eight historical gurdwaras. Having constructed Bhai Mardana Hall, Sant Jagtar Singh from Tarn Taran has now mobilised devotees for raising a seven-storey sarai outside Gurdwara Ber Sahib.

Sant Kashmir Singh Bhuriwale of Amritsar is here for the work on two more rest houses outside Gurdwara Hatt Sahib, where Guru Nanak had worked at the provision store of Nawab Daulat Khan.

Baba Labh Singh of Anandpur Sahib and his supporters are working on setting up of Mool Mantar Asthan outside Gurdwara Sant Ghat. It was at this gurdwara that the first Guru recited the “mool mantra” after appearing out of holy Bein on the third day.

Another project is of Ashtbhuj, a museum with eight minars, which will house items related to Guru Nanak. This is being raised by environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal and his team of young kar sewaks.

What’s in store

• Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh will visit Sultanpur Lodhi on the occasion of Gurpurb on Friday 
• He along with CM Capt Amarinder Singh will launch the 550th Parkash Utsav celebrations
• The duo will also lay the foundation stone of about 30 projects
• Cricketer Kapil Dev will release his book based on the Guru
• A ragi jatha will perform kirtan for about an hour