:dateline:Paying tribute to the 300th martyrdom anniversary of Sikh warrior Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi said that Baba Banda Singh Bahadur was not only a warrior but also a selfless administrator. He added that Baba Banda Singh Bahadur was the pioneer of independence of Indian sub-continent who struggled to defend the cultural diversity of India. Modi was addressing the gathering at commemorative function at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on June 3.
A book named �Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, Pioneer of India�s Independence� was released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this occasion amid chants of �Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal�.
Demanding National level memorial commemorated to the sacrifice of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, Chief Minister of Punjab Parkash Badal emphasized on the cultural diversity of Punjab.
Hitting out indirectly on Aam Admi Party and Congress for defaming Punjab as state of drug addicted people, Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab Sukhbir Badal said that it was the time for Punjab masses to reject their claims. He added that the Sikhs are regarded for their hard work all over the world but some political elements are defaming Sikh community for their vested interests. �
Pathetic attempt to rewrite history and saffronise Banda Singh Bahadur with the recent references to him as being a Yogi. ‘Banda Singh Bahadur was the pioneer of independence of Indian sub-continent who struggled to defend the cultural diversity of India’ – what? He was the first General of the Khalsa army. He was not fighting for the independence of Indian sub-continent but for the sovereign right of Sikhs to practise their religion (and by extension the rights of every religious grouping) in the face of brutal repression and genocidal persecution and pogroms by the taliban minded Mughal state which was intent upon ruthlessly enforcing its right wing religious hegemony (which ironically the RSS is doing now with its BJP patrons). The only pioneering of independence Banda Singh Bahadur was responsible for as a great and foremost Sikh general was to inspire the Sikh Misls by his avenging Sirhind and martyrdom in Delhi which then led to the creation of Maharajah Ranjit Singh’s Khalsa Raj sovereign state. This kind of brazen misappropriation is akin to the English claiming Scotland’s William Wallace – another ‘Braveheart’ who shared Banda Singh’s torturous martyred fate – as one of their own national heroes. This is really important to understand how cynical a ploy this is – if you can rewrite a people’s history you can then write its future. And the temerity to ‘honour’ Banda Singh Bahadur in a hall named in honour of Indira Gandhi – it tells you just how insincere this spectacle is.
What a hypocrite…. Sikhs work far more harder in Punjab – do you credit them? Farmers committing suicide you have not battered an eye-lid! Sucking up to Modi … by the way what is he doing with Kirpan – he does not even know the meaning…….