Khajuria S. Kant
As various functions are being held across the nation to mark the 300th anniversary celebrations of Khalsa Panth, Khalsa Diwas was celebrated by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh under the banner of Khalsa Tri-shatabdi Sthapana Samaroh Samiti at the Kalgidhar Gurdwara at Rehari, Jammu.
Bibi Jagir Kaur, Minister for Tourism and Welfare, Punjab government while addressing the gathering lauded BJP government's decision to sanction a grant of Rs 100 crore for the Tercentenary celebrations. Of this Rs 50 crore shall be spent in Punjab and the rest in other states. She appreciated the Prime Minister for taking his personal interest in these celebrations. The Minister also praised the programme chalked down by the Akali-BJP government to celebrate the tercentenary including inauguration of a library and museum at Anandpur Sahib by Prime Minister Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee. Vice President and the Chief Ministers of all states, and dignitaries from all over the world would also attend the programmes.
Shri Indresh Kumar, Prant Pracharak of Himgiri Prant informed that the RSS has made extensive plans to celebrate the Khalsa tercentenary throughout the country including publication of Sikh literature in all the Indian languages and photographs of great Sikh saints and its distribution among the masses.
Master Mohan Lal, a minister with the Punjab government and Dr Devinder Singh, Head of the Punjabi Department of Jammu University also addressed the gathering.
Sardar Mohinder Singh, President of the Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, presented saropas to Bibi Jagir Kaur and Master Mohan Lal.
Shabad Kirtan by ghazal singer Vijay Malla and patriotic songs sung by the Swayamsevaks marked the function. Prominent personalities like S/Shri Haridaman Singh, Giani Swarn Singh, Gurjeet Singh, Ranjeet Singh and Advocate Gurcharan Singh Gill, all-India general secretary of Sikh Sangat also expressed their views. President of the Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee proposed a vote of thanks. Managed by volunteers of Bajrang Dal a langar was also arranged for the gathering.
