DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Member of Parliament Sri Satnam Singh Sandhu raised a long-pending issue of Punjab in Rajya Sabha today and demanded the speedy completion of the Military Academy at Shri Anandpur Sahib.

It is pertinent to note that the then Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced the construction/institution of a Military Academy at Shri Anandpur Sahib during celebrations of the 300th foundation day of Shri Khalsa in Anandpur Sahib itself.

Addressing the Chairman, Mr. Satnam Singh Sandhu said, "Sri Anandpur Sahib holds historical significance for the city's Punjabi community and the Sikh community. This 'Holy City of Bliss' is one of the five most important religious places of the Sikhs."

Elaborating his demand, he stressed in the House, "This is the place where the last two Sikh Gurus and Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh, lived. Before sacrificing, Guru Teg Bahadur had left for Delhi from here. The city is the site of Sri Kesgarh Sahib, the third of the five Takhts of Sikhism. The Hola Mohalla festival here is also famous all over the world. It was here that Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa Panth on the day of Baisakhi in 1699.

Taking inspiration from the Khalsa Panth who sacrificed their lives for the nation and society, today lakhs of Sikh and Punjabi soldiers are protecting the country in the Indian Army and Paramilitary Forces.

Keeping this in mind, on the 300th foundation day of Shri Khalsa in April 1999, the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee gifted a military academy at Anandpur Sahib to the holy city. However, the issue later cooled down and the establishment of the military academy is still pending."

Making his demand, Mr. Sandhu urged, "This government works on the motto of Nation First and I hope that it will look into this issue while respecting the importance of Sikhs in the army and the sacrifice of Sikh Gurus. I demand the government to consider giving Sri Anandpur Sahib the rights of a military academy."

Shri Sandhu said, "The nation has seen Prime Minister Narendra Modi's affection and respect towards the Sikh community during the past ten years. His sentiments were reflected during the unparalleled celebration of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Maharaj, observation of Veer Bal Diwas, opening of Sri Kartarpur Sahib corridor, making Sultanpur Lodhi a state-of- the-art smart city, removal of taxation from Langar, and many several positive steps. Moreover, the Government led by Shri Narendra Modi works on the Motto of 'Nation First'. Hence, I am quite optimistic towards the Union Government for the speedy completion of the Military Academy."

Shri Anandpur Sahib is one of the cities of utmost importance to Sikhism. The message of religious freedom, and protection of human rights emanates from this shrine and most importantly for undivided India, because four of the five pyaras raised by Dasam Patshah hailed from different places of India i.e. Uttar Pradesh, UP; Puri, Odisha; Dwarka, Gujarat; and Karnataka.
(editor@dailyworld.in)