Journalism of Courage
Presents
Co-presented by
Associate Sponsor
Premium
Punjab notifies three towns as holy cities; bans sale of meat, liquor, tobacco there
On November 24, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha had passed a resolution for according the status of holy cities to Anandpur Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, and the Amritsar Walled City.
Punjab on Monday notified Amritsar’s walled city, Anandpur Sahib and Talwandi Sabo as holy cities, banning sale of liquor, meat and tobacco within their limits. (File photo)
The Punjab government Monday issued a formal notification granting the ‘holy city’ status to three towns — the walled city of Amritsar, Talwandi Sabo (in Bathinda district) and Sri Anandpur Sahib (in Rupnagar district).
“The Governor of Punjab is pleased to declare the walled city of Amritsar; the city of Sri Anandpur Sahib; and the city of Talwandi Sabo (Sri Damdama Sahib), as Holy Cities of the State of Punjab,” read a notification issued by Home Secretary Alok Shekhar.
With the issuing of the notification, the government has asked secretaries of excise, health, and animal husbandry departments not to allow sale of liquor, tobacco and cigarettes, and meat within the precints of walled city and municipal limits of Sri Anandpur Sahib and Talwandi Sabo.
On November 24, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha had passed a resolution for according the status of holy cities to Anandpur Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, and the Amritsar Walled City. The resolution, moved by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, was passed during a day-long special session convened in Anandpur Sahib to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
The three cities are home to three of the five ‘Takhts’ — Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Amritsar), Sri Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo) and Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib (Sri Anandpur Sahib).
Moving the resolution, Mann had said the government will make dedicated efforts for the development, cleanliness, security and promotion of religious tourism in these holy cities. He had said that the state government will also allocate necessary budget, and also seek funds from the central government “as this is imperative to spread the legacy of these places for our coming generations”.
Advertisement
Loading Taboola...
Top Stories
Live Blog
Advertisement