Aman Arora pays heartfelt tribute to Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji at a historic Punjab Assembly session, highlighting his sacrifice for religious freedom and national unity.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) State President and Punjab Cabinet Minister Aman Arora paid a heartfelt homage to the Ninth Guru during a historic special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, which was held at Sri Anandpur Sahib to commemorate the 350th Martyrdom Day of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. He described the Ninth Guru’s sacrifice as a timeless symbol of religious freedom and national unity.
Speaking to the special session at the Bhai Jaita Ji Memorial, Arora stated that leaders, lawmakers, and citizens had assembled on the holy grounds of Sri Anandpur Sahib to honor the Guru by the almighty grace of Guru Sahib. The depth, philosophy, and moral strength of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, whose martyrdom is unparalleled in global history, he said, could not be adequately captured in words. He said that his sacrifice was the only instance in history of a noble soul giving his life to defend another faith.
Arora emphasized that Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s martyrdom was an ultimate act of protecting human rights, unity, and religion rather than just a religious event. He remembered that the Guru, known as Hind Di Chadar, provided protection for the downtrodden, and his loyal Sikhs—Bhai Mati Das, who was sawn alive, Bhai Sati Das, who was burned alive, and Bhai Dayala Ji, who was boiled alive—accepted martyrdom without compromising their faith. He claimed that their sacrifices constitute a lasting chapter of bravery and spiritual strength.
Arora described how the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has made deliberate investments to preserve cultural heritage and promote interfaith harmony in order to uphold the Guru’s teachings. The Dera Ballan Research Centre, the Bhagwan Valmiki Panorama at Ram Tirath in Amritsar, the Kali Mata Temple complex, and the Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Scheme were all given Rs 25 crore, Rs 35 crore, and Rs 75 crore, respectively, he mentioned. He underlined that these efforts are a determined attempt to guarantee that every person has total freedom of faith and are not just pecuniary choices. He stated that safeguarding all faiths and philosophical traditions continues to be a top priority for the government.
Arora cited recent events in Manipur and Haryana to highlight the importance of the special session in a time when efforts to split society along religious, caste, and communal lines are growing across the country. He stated that Punjab needs to give a clear message of peace, harmony, and secularism to the rest of the nation during these times. “On this historic occasion, the three crore people of Punjab must send a message of unity to the 150 crore citizens of India,” he continued.
“We reject ‘Hindu Rashtra’ and ‘Khalistan’ from this holy land,” Arora said, restating his position on national unity. We honor the vision of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji, who gave his life to ensure national unity, by chanting “Jug Jug Jive Mera Hindustan” instead. He said that the unique session is a celebration of the Guru’s timeless teachings of harmony and unity.