The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has said that Khalsa Panth is the Suraksha Kavach (Protective Shield) of Indian Culture. Addressing the 300th Shaheedi Samagam of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji observed at Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, he paid rich tributes to the great Sikh warrior. He called upon the historians to undertake research and development activities specially to assess the historically significant role of Founder of First Sovereign Khalsa Raj, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur for welfare and emancipation of Gaon, Garib and Kisan (Villages , Poor and Farmers) in India, who gave proprietary rights to the tillers for the first time. He also referred to a poem written by Shri Rabindra Nath Tagore regarding the historic role played by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and his sacrifices.
Shri Rajnath Singh called upon the youth to come forward and get inspired by heroic deeds of Babaji to fight against the divisive forces of terrorism and cross -border terrorism .
He further said that Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to look into the atrocities against Sikhs during the Anti Sikh Riots of 1984 , has recommended 22 cases to be reinvestigated after reviewing 286 cases and justice will be ensured for one and all.
Shri Parkash Singh Badal Chief Minister of Punjab said that Sikhism is the practical example of secularism, socialism and humanism. Shri Sukhbir Singh Badal Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, Shri Prem Singh Chandumajra & Shri Balwinder Singh Bhunder, both Members of Parliament, also addressed the gathering which was attended by many other dignitaries.