78 years after Partition, Amit Shah: ‘Why was Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara left out?’

Recalling the sacrifices made by the Sikh Gurus for humanity, Shah said that the Narendra Modi government did not leave any stone unturned in highlighting the Sikh Guru tradition before the country and the world.

Talking about the initiatives taken by the BJP-led government, the Home Minister said: “After three decades, the cases of all the victims of the Sikh riots were reopened, and those who committed crimes were put behind bars. Compensation of Rs 5 lakh was given (to the families of the victims), and now (Haryana Chief Minister) Nayab Singh Saini is also giving jobs to their family members. I am very grateful to Saini that after so long he has taken the step of providing employment to the families.”

Shah added: “The memorial of Jallianwala Bagh was built. Sikh families from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh who came here as refugees were granted citizenship, and in Jammu & Kashmir too, 1.16 lakh families who did not get citizenship earlier were granted it after the abrogation of Article 370.”

Recalling sacrifices made by the sons (Sahibzadas) of tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh, Shah said that the Modi government in 2022 announced to observe the martyrdom of two younger sons as Veer Bal Diwas on December 26 with great devotion. Shah also noted that “all the state governments have supported it; no matter which party they belong to”.

The senior BJP leader said: “In one way, Narendra Modi is a very fortunate Prime Minister. Not because he won elections three times and became Prime Minister three times. During his tenure as Prime Minister, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s 350th martyrdom day came. Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj’s 550th Prakash Parv came. Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s 400th Prakash Parv came. The 350th Prakash Parv of the Tenth Guru also came during his period. This too is the blessing of the Gurus that in the tenure of a single Prime Minister, events connected with the lives of Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj up to the Tenth Guru all occurred.”

During the programme, Amit Shah released a coffee table book based on the saga of sacrifice of the Sahibzadas and the Vision Document 2047 prepared by the Haryana Government. In addition, the Union Home Minister also distributed appointment letters to family members of those killed in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Earlier, Amit Shah unveiled a 41-foot-tall bronze statue of former Prime Minister of India, late Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Atal Park in Panchkula, on the eve of his birth anniversary. Shah also inaugurated an initiative for 250 Atal e-Libraries across the state, aimed at promoting a culture of reading and knowledge-sharing, particularly among the youth.