4 days ago
From cleaning, repairing of roads to Guru Tegh Bahadur sites: Bains pledges Rs 20L from discretionary funds, one month's salary as part of religious sentence
Complying with the direction of the Akal Takht, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains has pledged Rs 20 lakh from his discretionary funds and one month's salary for the cleaning and repair of approach roads to sites
associated with Guru Tegh Bahadur.
In compliance with the order received from the Five Singh Sahibaan at Sri Akal Takht Sahib, and with the grace of Guru Sahib Ji, after completing the assigned service, I went to Sri Akal Takht Sahib, offered Ardaas, and submitted a report regarding the completed service, Bains said.
For the cleaning and improvement of the roads leading to Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahal, Gurdwara Kotha Sahib Patshahi Nauvin, and Gurdwara Baba Bakala Sahib, I pledge to contribute Rs 20 lakh from my discretionary funds and, as a personal offering, one month's salary, he said.
Bains also said he would make every possible effort, personally and through the government for beautification works around other sites linked to Guru Tegh Bahadur.
As a humble Sikh, I request forgiveness for mistakes committed knowingly or unknowingly in the past, and seek blessings to serve religion, the community, the nation, Punjab and society to the greatest extent in the
future, he said.
The Sikh clergy summoned Bains for organising entertainment performances, involving dance and music, at a programme held in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on July 24 to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth of the ten Sikh Gurus. The Punjab Language Department organised the event, held at Tagore Hall in Srinagar.
At the meeting held at the Akal Takht secretariat, Bains apologised for the Srinagar event, which was seen as a deep affront to Sikh sentiments. The Sikh clergy asked him to immediately visit Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahal, the
birthplace of Guru Tegh Bahadur, in Amritsar, to inspect and ensure repairs and cleanliness on the approach roads and nearby streets.
This is the first time that the Akal Takht mandated infrastructure development as part of a religious sentence.
