The two-day program to celebrate the 400th birth anniversary of ninth Sikh Guru Teg Bahadur began at Red Fort in New Delhi on Wednesday with the participation of Union Home Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Shah.
“The entire nation is indebted to the sacrifices of the great Sikh Gurus. Where Guru Tegh Bahadur was sacrificed, the Modi government is doing this program, it is a matter of good fortune,” said Shah.
The program organized by the Center and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) will also see the participation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will address the event on Thursday.
The Red Fort was chosen for the event as the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb ordered the execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur from here in 1675.
“The programme is focussed on highlighting the teachings of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the ninth Sikh Guru, who sacrificed his life to protect religion and human values, ideals and principles in world history. He was executed for supporting the religious freedom of Kashmiri Pandits on the orders of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb,” the PMO said.
