CHANDIGARH: Punjab state chief of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and MP Bhagwant Mann has demanded a grant of Rs 550 crore from the Modi government under the special budgetary provisions on the occasion of the 550th Parkash Purv of the first Sikh master Guru Nanak Dev.
In a statement issued from party headquarter in Chandigarh on Wednesday, Mann said it would have been a matter of great pleasure for the ‘sangat’ living in various parts of the world had the government allocated a special grant of Rs 550 crore for the historic celebrations on the day.
What to speak about the BJP government at the centre, the so-called saviors of the ‘panth’ maintain a stoic silence over the issue concerning the teeming millions of the ‘Naam Leva’ sangat across the globe. He added that both union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal should have pressed their alliance partners for the allocation of the funds under special budgetary provisions for the celebrations in connection with the 550th Parkash Purv of the first Sikh Master provision.
Taking a potshot at the Badal couple, Maan said that when the demand for allocation of funds for Rs 550 crore under the special budgetary provisions was raised in the Parliament, both union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Sukhbir Badals maintained silence what to speak of expressing their concern over the issue.
Bhagwant Mann urged the Modi government to immediately announce grant of Rs. 550 crore by making special provisions in the budget, saying that Guru Nanak Dev had his followers all over the world and across the Sikh community.
Mann further said that it was the joint responsibility of all communities, political outfits and the ruling parties in the country to carry forward the universal message of mutual brotherhood and ‘sarbat da bhala’ preached by the great master, across the globe.
Mann added that there were unconfirmed report of the union government mulling over the grant of a special fund of Rs 100 crores, stating that the amount was too insufficient to meet the expenses on the Parkash Purv.