Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Punjab on November 25, 2016 to attend a function marking the 350th birth anniversary of tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh ji at Sri Anandpur Sahib in Rupanagar district.
- During the visit Prime Minister offered prayers at Gurdwara Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib, the second holiest of Sikh shrines after Amritsar’s Harmandir Sahib or Golden Temple and was presented a ‘siropa’ or robe of honour by the Sikh priests at the historic gurdwara.
350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh
Addressing a function, PM Modi said that Government of India will be celebrating 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh and 300th anniversary of martyrdom of Sikh general Baba Banda Singh, everywhere across the world where Indians reside.
- For this purpose high-level national committee will be formed that would make plans for the celebrations
- The Government of India has declared an amount of Rs 100 crore for this while the Punjab government will also contribute a matching amount for the event.
- PM said that if we celebrate 300th, 350th or similar historical events it will connect future generations with historical roots. Those who forget history can never create history. Only they can create history who are connected with the historical roots and all these events will connect the future with the great and historical traditions.
PM Modi Addressed Rally
PM modi also addressed a rally during the visit.Since Assembly Elections is to take place next year in Punjab, PM Modi’s visit marked a political and electoral significance for the present ruling party of Punjab that is the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The alliance has been in power in Punjab since 2007.
Modi Laid foundation stone of AIIMS
During the visit, Mr Modi also laid the foundation stone of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bathinda. Modi was accompanied by Punjab Cm PS Badal, Punjab Deputy CM, Sukhbir Badal, Union Health Minister JP Nadda, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Vijay Sampla and many other Akali leaders.
- Bathinda is the Lok Sabha constituency of Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
- The hospital will be built at a cost of Rs. 925 crore and will be spread over 200 acres.The 750-bed hospital and institute is expected to be completed in 2 years.
- The AIIMS project will benefit south-west Punjab, comprising the districts of Bathinda, Mansa and Sangrur where cancer and other diseases are widely prevalent.
- The Malwa zone of Punjab is badly affected by Cancer because of which it is called Cancer belt so this Institute has a significance importance.
- The institute will also cater to the needs of the people in adjoining areas of Haryana and Rajasthan.
- This Institute will have medical college for 100 students Batch and a nursing college also.
