PHAGWARA: During the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, Rajya Sabha Member Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal staged a protest at the main gate of Parliament, demanding that the day commemorating the martyrdom of the younger Sahibzade be renamed from “Veer Bal Diwas” to “Sahibzade Shaheedi Diwas.”
Explaining his demand, Sant Seechewal said that on December 9 he had written letters to the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, and the Ministry of Women and Child Development, urging them to respect the religious sentiments of the Sikh community by renaming “Veer Bal Diwas” as “Sahibzade Shahadat Diwas.”
He stated that the sentiments of the Sikh community were ignored while naming this day, and that Sikhs have objected to this name since the very beginning. Sant Seechewal emphasized that the Sahibzade are not merely children; they are revered spiritual figures for the entire Sikh world.
Earlier today, before the Parliament session began, Sant Seechewal held placards in both hands while staging his protest at Parliament’s entrance. Before commencing the protest, he raised the Sikh slogan “Bole So Nihal.”
Sant Seechewal further informed that he had received a letter from Sri Akal Takht Sahib, which stated that the Sikh community strongly objects to the name “Veer Bal Diwas, ” which has been observed at the national level since 2022 in memory of the Sahibzade. The letter also urged all Members of Parliament from Punjab to exert pressure on the Central Government to get this name changed.