Aman Arora Questions PM Modi's Absence from Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Events at Sri Anandpur Sahib

Chandigarh(The Uttam Hindu):  The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Punjab President Mr. Aman Arora, today took exception to the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi for their "deliberate and telling absence" from the recently concluded month-long 'Shahidi Samaroh' in Punjab to commemorate the 350th Martyrdom Day of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji.

While addressing a press conference here at Punjab Bhawan on Wednesday, Mr. Aman Arora expressed deep disappointment and dismay, stating that the BJP's leadership, despite personal invitations, displayed a "blatant disregard" for the sacrifice of the Ninth Sikh Guru, who laid down His life to protect the fundamental rights and religious freedom of Hindus.

Mr. Aman Arora said that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government had conceived the commemorative events as a totally non-political to educate future generations about the unparalleled sacrifice of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji.

"We consciously kept it completely non-political because the martyrdom of the Ninth Guru Sahib is so monumental that it should not be tainted by any kind of politics. The purpose was to rise above all religious, political and social lines," added Mr. Aman Arora.

He revealed that invitations were sent to a wide spectrum of leaders, including the President of India, the Prime Minister, all Union Ministers and Chief Ministers. "We sent Cabinet Ministers to personally invite them. We did not speak about it until now, hoping that perhaps the opportunity to pay obeisance to Guru Sahib would bring them to holy land of Sri Anandpur Sahib. But today, I state without any hesitation that they have shown their true colours," Mr. Aman Arora said.

Questioning the Prime Minister, Mr. Aman Arora highlighted that Prime Minister Modi was in Kurukshetra, which is just a 12-15 minute flight to Sri Anandpur Sahib. Yet, he chose not to come to pay his respects. I believe he should feel ashamed."

The AAP, Punjab President drew a sharp contrast between the BJP's projection of Mr. Modi was a "Vishwa Guru" and his refusal to pay homage to the "actual World Guru, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. This single act has removed any lingering doubt. It has exposed the depth of hatred festering in their hearts towards Punjab, Punjabiyat, and the Sikh community, he added.

Mr. Arora framed the BJP's absence not just as an insult to Sikhs, but as an insult to the very nation, which was saved by Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji. "This is not just about rejecting Guru Sahib Ji’s philosophy. It is an insult to those 500 Kashmiri Pandit brothers who walked 500 kilometres from Srinagar to seek and find a sanctuary with Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji at Sri Anandpur Sahib."

Urging the Prime Minister to learn from Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's philosophy, Mr. Arora said, "If there was no martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, there would be no Hindustan today. And if there was no Hindustan, you would not be fit to govern it." He said, "If you read just one page of the Ninth Guru Ji’s philosophy and implement it, then Nuh and Manipur like tragedies, in which hundreds of human lives were lost, would never happen."

Slamming the BJP's "petty mindset", Mr. Aman Arora stated, "Their absence speaks volumes - a disrespect to Sikh history & the Guru Sahib Ji’s sacrifice. BJP must introspect, cleanse hatred, & see India as Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji envisioned.