Punjab Newspaper

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today appealed the countrymen to participate in the tercentenary celebrations of Guru-Ta-Gaddi  of Sri Guru Granth Sahib with religious fervour and enthusiasm to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood among various communities besides championing the cause of peace, national integration and communal harmony.
In his address at a meeting of National Integration Council held at New Delhi, Mr.Badal also urged the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and other dignitaries to be the part of these celebrations which could be a great unifying factor as this mega event would become a landmark in religeo-cultural national integration.  The Chief Minister said: “The message of universal brotherhood-Sarbat Da Bhala (Welfare of all mankind) – of Guru Granth Sahib can be disseminated and all political forces can find a common cause to underline the feeling of belonging to a higher cause.”
Mr. Badal said: “In this, Punjab can be a torch bearer not only to the rest of the country but to the whole world.  At a time when divisive forces are exploiting religious, caste and ideological differences to foment unrest  and tear apart the national secular fabric, it will be in the fitness of things to bring national focus on the tercentenary celebrations of Guruta of holy Sikhs scripture, Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the next few weeks as celebrations are already peaking around the globe and a groundswell of religious fervour is sweeping the people irrespective of their religious affiliations”.