Punjab government to invite Narendra Modi to preside over seminar

Chandigarh, Aug 21: Punjab government will invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to preside over a seminar in the national capital on the life, philosophy and teachings of Guru Gobind Singh as a part of year-long celebrations commemorating his 350th Parkash Utsav across the country. The decision was taken by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during a meeting to review the arrangements for commemorating the 350th Parkash Utsav of tenth guru of Sikhs, an official spokesman said here today. Badal said he would personally write to Modi requesting him to preside over a national seminar at Vigyan Bhawan which is likely to be held between November 15-30. He also asked all legislators of SAD-BJP alliance along with the President and General Secretary of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee to personally call on the Prime Minister next week requesting him to preside over the event. Badal said Modi’s participation in the seminar would further strengthen the ethos of peace, communal harmony and brotherhood across the country towards which Sri Guru Gobind Singh had made unparalleled contribution. He also set up a sub-committee comprising MPs of the alliance along with the representatives from SGPC and DSGMC to give final touches to the celebrations during the event. Badal approved a sum of Rs 5 lakh each for eight seminars to be held in different universities/institutions across the country to disseminate the legacy of Guru Gobind Singh. A series of seminars would be organized on the life and philosophy of Guru Gobind Singh at International Centre of Sikh Studies, Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, New Delhi on September 16-17, Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib on October 6-7, Panjab University, Chandigarh on October 13-14.