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‘Attempts to distort history of Sikhs’: Congress raises Veer Bal Diwas issue at special session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha

Political parties in Punjab have been demanding that Veer Bal Diwas is a misnomer and the day should instead be referred to as Sahibzadas Shahadat Diwas (Martyrdom Day of the Sahibzadas).

3 min readChandigarhDec 30, 2025 03:56 PM IST

At the onset of the session, the House remembered the four Sahibzadas as Congress member Rana Gurjit Singh called for a resolution against “attempts to distort history of Sikhs.” (PTI)

The Opposition Congress in Punjab on Tuesday raised the issue of renaming Veer Bal Diwas—a commemorative day announced by the Centre to honour the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s younger sons—during the special session of Vidhan Sabha, while other parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), chose not to broach the matter.

At the onset of the session, the House remembered the four Sahibzadas as Congress member Rana Gurjit Singh called for a resolution against “attempts to distort history of Sikhs.”

“The martyrdom day of the younger Sahibzadas is being called Veer Bal Diwas (Brave Children’s Day). They were not children; they are our babas (revered elders). Similarly, Banda Singh Bahadur is being called Banda Bairagi. He was a bairagi (ascetic) before he partook of amrit (nectar of immortality). It is not right to call him a bairagi today,” he said.

Also Read | Veer Bal Diwas 2024: Know the date, history, significance, and celebrations

BJP state acting president and Pathankot MLA Ashwani Sharma stepped in to clarify the issue. “The supreme sacrifice of the Sahibzadas is being remembered in every language across the country, whether it is Tamil or Malayalam, and we are stuck on the name. I do not want to delve into who recommended this name,” he said. Reciting two Hindi poems on the floor of the House, Sharma remembered the younger Sahibzadas and said that this sacrifice was for uniting the country.

Political parties in Punjab have been demanding that Veer Bal Diwas is a misnomer and the day should be referred to as Sahibzadas Shahadat Diwas (Martyrdom Day of the Sahibzadas).

AAP president and Cabinet minister Aman Arora dared Sharma to name the person who had recommended changing the name. To this, Sharma said that he did not want to indulge in politics on this solemn occasion. “There is a lot of information about this on social media. You can check it there. I will not say anything about this today,” he said.

Earlier, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan began the special session by paying homage to the unparalleled sacrifice of the four Sahibzadas of Sri Guru Gobind Singh. Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan said that they can never be forgotten.

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Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that the younger Sahibzadas made the ultimate sacrifice when children are not even aware of their surroundings.

SAD member Manpreet Singh Ayali and BSP member Dr Nacchattar Singh also paid tributes to the Sahibzadas and remembered their sacrifice.

AAP MLA Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar said that the younger Sahibzadas were tempted, threatened, and everything was done to break their resolve, but they could not be made to bow down. Dr Nijjar gave a clarion call not to lower the dignity of the solemn occasion by arguing in the House on Tuesday.

In December 1704, Guru Gobind Singh’s mother, Mata Gujari Ji, and his two younger sons, Zorawar Singh, 9, and Fateh Singh, 7, were executed at Sirhind for not embracing Islam.

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In January 2022, the Centre announced that December 26 would be observed as Veer Bal Diwas to mark the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s younger sons.

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

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