Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 16: Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat has called for further strengthening the bonds of communal harmony and mutual brotherhood among various communities to ensure peaceful environment.
“All religions teach us tolerance, peace, respecting each other’s sentiments, helping the poor and needy, which is the pride of the pluralistic society of India,” said the Minister.
Addressing a huge gathering of Sikh devotees at a function at village Diaran in Raipur-Domana constituency organized by the Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committee to commemorate the Baisakhi festival, which also symbolizes the foundation of Khalsa Panth, the Minister said that India is a country of multi-religions, multi-lingual and has a unique example of unity in diversity that makes the country proud in the world. Everyone enjoys equal freedom and has right to observe worship as per one’s faith, said the Minister.
Highlighting the paralleled contribution of Sikh Gurus for the development of mankind, Bali said that the foundation of the Sikh Khalsa Panth was a move towards fighting against numerous evils, enemies of mankind and for saving the honor of numerous innocent people who faced the wrath of anti-human powers.
He said the unmatched contribution and teachings of Sikh Gurus will continue to inspire the coming generations, particularly the Sikh community, adding that need of the hour was to follow their footsteps in real spirit to achieve the objective of peace and prosperity for all human beings on earth.
Several speakers threw light on the lives and rich contribution of Sikh Gurus and maintained that their teachings will remain ever relevant and torch bearer for the coming generations. They called for working in unison to preserve and promote the rich ethos and values of Indian civilization for the welfare of the mankind and as a source of inspiration for the coming generations.
On the occasion, the Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee presented a memorandum of demands to the Minister which comprised up-gradation of roads, power infrastructure, drinking water supply, construction of a community hall in the vicinity.
The Minister announced an amount of Rs 5 lakh for construction of a Community Hall in the village from his Constituency Development Funds. He also assured immediate appropriate action on the other demands.
The Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee honored the Minister and other prominent persons by presenting them traditional sacred cloth (Siropa) and expressed gratitude for gracing the occasion.