New Delhi – Shiromani Akali Dal Member of Parliament from Bathinda Harsimrat Kaur Badal today made an impassioned plea to the Government of India, asking it to name the national tribute to the sacrifice of the great Sahibzadas of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji “in a manner that it symbolises Panthic values and is in sync with the sentiments and heritage of Khalsa Panth.”
She requested the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to heed the reservations of Sikhs’ supreme body Sri Akal Takht Sahib and accept the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)’s recommendation to name it as “Shabibzade Shahadat Diwas” to resonate with Sikh ethos.
Thanking the PM for personally ensuring that “a historic omission” is undone by paying a national tribute to the Chhote Sahibzadas’ sacrifice against fanaticism, religious intolerance and persecution, including forcible conversions, Ms Badal said that she and her party “fully and gratefully acknowledge the sensitivity shown by the Prime Minister in this regard.”
She, however, said that the nomenclature needs to reflect this sensitivity. Ms Badal who was speaking in the Lok Sabha this afternoon, said that while the Sikh quom “gratefuly acknowledges the Prime Minister’s “noble gesture”, it has legitimate reservations about its nomenclature – “Veer Bal Diwas”, because they were not normal children.
As I know that the Govt’s intention in this regard is positive and pious, it shouldn’t be difficult for it to revisit the nomenclature issue and resolve it to the satisfaction of the community directly in perspective,” said Badal.
