Guru Ravidas centre to come up in Punjab's Ballan

Tribune News Service

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Jalandhar, December 31

Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi today announced the establishment of a state-of-the-art Guru Ravidas Bani Adhiyan (Research) Centre at Ballan, to be built a cost of Rs 50 crore. He handed over a cheque for Rs 25 crore for the purpose during a visit to Dera Sachkhand Ballan here. Also, SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal called on the dera chief separately.

With the dera being a revered seat of the Ravidassia community, political leaders visit it ahead of the elections to woo Doaba’s crucial 32 per cent Dalit vote. In August, PCC president Navjot Singh Sidhu had visited the dera.

While paying obeisance in the presence of chief Sant Niranjan Dass, Channi said the centre would go a long way in undertaking extensive research and study of the ‘bani’ of Guru Ravidas. The dera chief presented him with a ‘siropa’ (holy robe).

The CM also announced the formation of Guru Ravidas Bani Adhiyan Kendra Prabandhak Committee, to be headed by its head, to manage the overall affairs of the centre. The CM added that the Secretary, Tourism, and DC would be the government’s representatives in the committee, which would decide the future course of action with respect to development of the centre, including procurement of requisite land. Cabinet minister Pargat Singh, MLA Surinder Chaudhary, Chaudhary Santokh Singh and former minister Mohinder Singh Kaypee were also present.— TNS

Leather bizman back in Congress

Leather businessman Satpal Mal, who had quit the Congress in 2017 to join the SAD, on Friday returned to the party fold. Mal rejoined the Congress in the presence of CM Channi.