Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday stressed on the country’s unity while underlining that the dangerous against which the Sikh gurus had warned exist even today.
He exhorted the people to remain united and ensure that the country’s unity not is harmed.
Addressing the Gurpurab celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Gurudwara Lakhpat Sahib in Gujarat’s Kutch via video conferencing, the Prime Minister detailed the contribution of Sikh religion and the contribution of Sikh gurus, which goes much beyond society and spirituality.
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that in such important time, nobody hurts our dreams and unity of the country. To achieve the dreams for which our gurus lived and sacrificed their lives, we should all remain united. Unity is essential for us all,” Mr. Modi said, just days after the incidents of attempted sacrilege in two gurdwaras in Punjab and the blast in a court complex.
He added that in the past, Sikh gurus had never hesitated to put their lives at risk to protect India against foreign attackers.
“Guru Tegh Bahadur’s valour and his sacrifice against Aurangzeb teaches us how the country fights against terror and religious fanaticism,” he said. Mr Modi had also referred to the Mughal ruler during his recent inauguration of the Kashi Vishwanath temple corridor in Varanasi.
“The dangers against which the gurus warned us remain the same even today, so we have to be cautious and ensure the security of the country. I am sure that with the blessings of Guru Nanak Dev ji, we will surely fulfil our commitment, and the country will reach new heights,” he said.
Talking about Guru Nanak’s period, the Prime Minister said he and other gurus not only kept the consciousness of India ignited, but also made a way to keep the country safe from external attacks and atrocities that were breaking people’s morale during the the period under foreign rules.
“The contribution of our gurus is not limited to society and spirituality alone. Rather, if our nation, its consciousness, faith and integrity are safe today, then at its core is the great penance of the Sikh gurus.”
“Similarly, the life of the tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, is also a living example of tenacity and sacrifice at every step,” he said, adding that the gurus took on the strongest rulers of their times, and thousands of people sacrificed their lives to stop the attacks of Nader Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali.
The PM also recalled the massacre of Jallianwala Bagh during the British rule and sacrifices made by the members of the Sikh community in the brutal act by the colonial regime.
“Today, when the country is taking inspiration from its struggle for independence, from its past, at such a time, ideals of our gurus become even more important. Behind all the efforts taken by the country and its commitments are dreams that it has been waiting for to fulfil,” he said.
The PM during his speech also mentioned about Kartarpur Sahib Corridor and also about a small sword with the name of Guru Hargobind Ji written in Persian that he brought from America during his visit a few months ago, along with more than 150 historical objects that were returned by the U.S. to India.
