‘Holy city’ status fails to impress Anandpur Sahib residents

The Punjab Government declared Anandpur Sahib a holy city on Sunday, passing a resolution during a special assembly session in the historic town to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur. However, the announcement has left many residents feeling underwhelmed, as it fell short of their expectations.

Locals had anticipated major developmental declarations or the elevation of Anandpur Sahib to district status, but the move has been criticised as a “symbolic gesture” without substantive benefits. BJP state vice-president Subhash Sharma stated that Anandpur Sahib’s sanctity has long been recognised and didn’t require government certification.

“Anandpur Sahib has always been a holy city. Liquor vends and non-vegetarian eateries have never been allowed here. What people genuinely expected was district status or at least major development projects,” Sharma said. “Instead, the government has given nothing concrete to the residents.”

Many residents contrasted Sunday’s announcement with the initiatives undertaken during the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa in 1999, when the then SAD-BJP government unveiled landmark projects that continue to attract tourists. Kuldeep Singh, a resident of Anandpur Sahib, recalled how the 1999 celebrations transformed the city.

“The government had constructed the Virasat-e-Khalsa museum and the Panj Pyara Park, both of which elevated the city’s stature and boosted tourism. This time, people expected a similar scale of developmental investment, but declaring Anandpur Sahib a holy city feels underwhelming,” Singh said.

The disappointment among residents may provide fresh ammunition for opposition parties to target the AAP government over unmet expectations and lack of tangible development in the region. Sources indicate that the Ropar district administration had proposed establishing a new mini secretariat and a sports stadium in Anandpur Sahib, projects seen as crucial for local administrative convenience and youth development. However, the state government chose not to announce either of these during the special session.