GGS 'Prakash Purab' Celebrated; GNDU VC Appears at 'Akal Takht'; BJP’s Outreach

On 24 Aug, Acting Jathedar (leader) of Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Eternal Throne, AT), Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, extended greetings to the Sikh community on the Prakash Purab (birth anniversary) of Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh scripture and charter, GGS). He appealed to Gurdwara management committees abroad to refrain from taking unprincipled actions of restricting sangat (community members) from entering Gurdwaras. Sikhs in Jamshedpur and other places in India are also celebrating the occasion. Iran has sent greetings and to mark the occasion the Iranian embassy in India posted on X a Persian shabad from GGS citing the Sikh Research Institute, US. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the Sikhs as did Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ajay Kumar Bisht alias Yogi Adityanath saying, ‘Sikhs saved the Sanatan Hindu Dharama (ancient Hindu religion).’ Meanwhile, on 25 Aug, Guru Nanak Dev University Vice Chancellor Dr. Karamjeet Singh appeared at AT to present his explanation following complaints about his briefing to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh—which is Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) parent organization—chief Mohan Bhagwat at an event last month. The AT has recorded his statement and will deliberate on it in the coming days before announcing their decision. Concurrently, on 20 Aug, Panjab government stopped the BJP’s mega outreach program named BJP de Sewadaar, Aa Gaye ne Thuade Dwar (BJP’s volunteers have reached your door step) being conducted in rural areas of the state. The camps set up in 39 constituencies to enrol residents in union govt schemes such as Ayushman Bharat (healthy Indians) and PM-Kisan (farmers) were shut down by local administration teams, accompanied by police which detained 125 BJP leaders. Panjab BJP president Sunil Jhakar has dared the Aam Aadmi Party govt to arrest him. Panjab BJP working president has written to the Panjab Governor Gulab Chand Khataria and said, 'When BJP reaches out to the poor, unemployed, farmers, Dalits (marginal caste), women and youth with Modi’s welfare initiatives, the Mann govt responds by arresting our workers.' It is ironic but the crackdown has boosted BJP’s outreach in the state (earlier coverage).