National Commission for Minorities Urges Gujarat to Set Up Sikh Board, Promote Panjabi

The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) chief Iqbal Singh Lalpura said in a letter written to the Chief Minister of Gujarat on Thursday to set up a Sikh Development Board and a Sikh Research Board in the state to promote the Panjabi language, Sikh culture and history. The NCM chief said that the special relationship between the Sikhs and Gujarat has traces in history. Gujarat witnessed historic visits by Sikh Gurus including Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh. Bhai Mohkam Singh, one of the Panj Piare - the five enthroned lovers - was from Dwarka. Also, a large number of Sindhi Sikhs live in Gujarat. However, it must be noted, that in 2014, when Modi assumed charge as the nation’s PM, hundreds of Sikh farmers were being pushed out of their lands in Kutch. It is laudable that the government should create boards and promote Panjabi language but the Sikh land issue needs to be solved.