Centre committed to ensuring honour and justice for Sikh community: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the Central government is working with full commitment to ensure honour and justice for the Sikh community, highlighting various welfare measures and relief offered to the persecuted Sikhs through CAA.

 

Modi virtually addressed the 'Hind-Di-Chadar' commemoration event held in Kharghar here to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

 

Addressing the gathering, Home Minister Amit Shah said religious conversions are happening in Punjab and appealed to the Bhagwant Mann government and common people to stop this practice driven by "greed".

 

Modi said the government is working with full commitment for honour and justice to the Sikh community, and formed an SIT for the 1984 riots.

 

 

"Many cases related to the 1984 riots were closed. We reopened them, and the government also announced additional compensation for the riot-affected families. The National Commission for Minorities was given a more active role," he said.

 

When issues relating to the safety and security of Sikh families and sacred copies of the Guru Granth Sahib arose in Afghanistan, the government acted in a mission mode, he said.

 

"We are working in a mission mode. Our government safely brought back 'saroops' (copies of Shri Guru Granth Sahib) from Afghanistan. We paved the way for offering citizenship to Sikhs and Hindus from Afghanistan. Through CAA, we offered relief to the persecuted Sikhs," the PM asserted.

 

Modi also said rehabilitation packages were implemented for Sikh families from Jammu and Kashmir, while OCI and visa regulations were simplified, and thousands of blacklisted names of Sikhs were removed.

 

He added that events like Hind-Di-Chadar ensure history becomes "a path to the future" rather than mere memory.

 

"Standing with courage and truth is relevant today, the way it was at the time of Guru Tegh Bahadur. When the new generation is connected with such values, then tradition does not remain just a memory but becomes a path to the future. This is the aim of this meeting. We don't only remember history, but bring it into our lives," Modi said in his virtual address.

 

Bharat's history was replete with valour, coordination and cooperation, and the supreme sacrifice of the Gurus strengthened national unity, he said.

 

Every strata of society drew inspiration from them, which helped society remain firm on the path of truth and culture, the PM said.

 

"When the country needs social unity the most, this event offers us confidence that the blessings of our Gurus and seers are with us. This journey commenced last year from Nagpur, and then it was organised in Nanded. Today, Navi Mumbai's journey has reached an important stage," Modi added.

 

He said this yatra of Guru Tegh Bahadur's valour and history is not restricted to these three cities, but has reached many small cities and towns during this period.

 

The Union government is observing events related to Guru Tegh Bahadur at the national level, he said.

 

Asserting that several steps had been taken for the welfare of the Sikh community, the PM cited the completion of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, creation of facilities for Hemkund Sahib Yatra, relief to Sikh organisations and institutions connected to gurdwaras in Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act matters, as well as the inclusion of Sikh history in the syllabus and cultural programmes.

 

"Respect for the Sikh community's faith and creating opportunities for its progress is the government's responsibility and an honour," the prime minister said.

 

Amit Shah, meanwhile, said that had Guru Tegh Bahadur not sacrificed himself to save the Hindu religion, "there would not have been a single Hindu left in the world".

 

He noted that some people had earlier objected to this statement but insisted that "everybody should accept this truth".

 

"Today, it has been said here that religious conversion is taking place in Punjab. Guru Tegh Bahadur sacrificed himself to save others' religions. They faced atrocities, but we today prefer to convert because of some greed, then we cannot be called followers of our great leaders. The Punjab government and Punjab society should stop religious conversions," Shah said.

 

The senior BJP leader added that the Guru faced grave injustice and atrocities and fought against enemies far more powerful than him.

 

"His sacrifice inspired and gave courage to Hindus to continue their fight," he added.

 

Shah said Guru Nanak had emphasised chanting God's name, prayer and sharing meals, underlining togetherness, which later provided moral strength in resisting the Mughal invaders.

 

He also referred to Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, claiming that when atrocities were inflicted in Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmiri Pandits sought protection from the Guru and continue to hold him in high regard.

 

"Guru Tegh Bahadur had said that if Aurangzeb can convert me, then all the people will get converted. Aurangzeb accepted it as a challenge.

 

"He inflicted atrocities and killed Guru Tegh Bahadur's companions, but the Guru never budged. Finally, Guru Tegh Bahadur sacrificed himself, but he did not give up. His sacrifice inspired people to fight against Aurangzeb," Shah added.

 

He said Sanatan Dharma's followers across the world are grateful to the Sikh guru.

 

He recounted the torture endured by Guru Tegh Bahadur's disciples Bhai Matidas ji, Bhai Satidas ji, and Bhai Dayla ji'.

 

He highlighted the deep spiritual and historical link between Maharashtra and Punjab, noting that the writings of Sant Namdev Ji are enshrined in the Guru Granth Sahib.

 

"Nanded Sahib is located in Maharashtra, where the tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, spent his final days and established the Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru. It was from Maharashtra that Banda Singh Bahadur was sent to Punjab to lead the fight against Mughal oppression," he added.

 

Shah appealed to youngsters to read the Jafarnama, written by Guru Gobind Singh to Aurangzeb.

 

"If you read Jafarnama, you will know how a cruel person's mind changes when faced with a person of true character," Shah said, adding that even after sacrificing his father, mother, and four sons, the Tenth Guru remained undefeated in spirit.

 

CM Fadnavis, Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, spiritual leaders and ministers attended the programme.