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Let us unitedly fight disruptive forces, says Prime Minister
| “Some forces trying to create hurdles in the process of development” |
“Protection of environment should be treated as a dharma”
Desist from female foeticide: Manmohan
NANDED (MAHARASHTRA): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday appealed for a united fight against forces that were antagonistic to the country’s rapid development.
These forces were trying to instil fear in the people through terror tactics to create hurdles to development, he said addressing a convention of pilgrims at the Samagam Sthal on the occasion of the tercentenary celebrations of ‘Gurta Gaddi’ or elevation of the Adi Granth as the Guru Granth Sahib, eternal Guru of Sikhs.
“The country is taking rapid strides in development. We have to protect the unity and integrity of the country in the interest of development.”
Referring to the origin of Sikhism, Dr. Singh said the Khalsa Panth raised by Guru Gobind Singh, tenth Guru of Sikhs, envisaged protection of the unity and integrity of the country. “I appeal to people on this holy occasion to come together to take the country ahead.”
Quoting a hymn Pavan guru pani pita from the Japji Sahib, Dr. Singh said protection of environment should be treated as a ‘dharma.’
Expressing concern at the growing incidence of female foeticide, he said the Khalsa did not believe in gender inequality. He urged the Sikhs to desist from female foeticide.
Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala, Union Ministers Shivraj Patil and Ambika Soni, Maharashtra and Punjab Chief Ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh and Parkash Singh Badal and chairman of the Takhat Sachkhand Shri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib Gurdwara P.S. Pasricha were present.
In a traditional honour, Giani Pratap Singh, one of the Panj Pyaras at the Gurdwara, presented a saffron robe and a sword to Dr. Singh.
The Prime Minister released two commemorative coins in the denominations of Rs. 10 and 20 and a calendar of the Gurdwara.
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