Chandigarh, Sep 1 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday informed the state Assembly that opposition members will also be included in the committee constituted for programmes to mark the 650th birth anniversary Guru Ravidas.
The Haryana government has launched the ‘Guru Ravidas Maharaj Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan’ on the occasion of the 650th ‘Prakash Parv’ of Sant Ravidas. The campaign will be conducted across the state till February 20 next year.
Saini said members of the opposition will also be included in the committee constituted for the ‘Sant Shiromani Guru Ravidas Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan’.
The chief minister moved a resolution in the Assembly on Tuesday on the nationwide ‘Guru Ravidas Maharaj Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan’, dedicated to the 650th ‘Prakash Parv’ of Ravidas. The House unanimously passed the resolution.
Speaking when the resolution was moved, Congress leader B B Batra pointed out that a committee has been formed by the government but the opposition members have not been included in it.
“In that, all MLAs, MPs, former MLAs, they all are from the BJP,” Batra pointed out.
Referring to the programmes organised to commemorate the martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur last year, Saini said that a resolution had earlier been brought before the august House and committees had also been constituted to organise programmes marking the occasion. Members of the opposition were also included in these committees.
Saini said that the concerned deputy commissioners had invited opposition MLAs to the programmes organised across the state but opposition members were not seen participating in them.
Expressing regret over their non-participation, the chief minister said that he was placing the matter before the House with a heavy heart.
Saini said participation from the opposition was not seen despite committees being constituted for programmes commemorating an important occasion such as the martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur and invitations being extended to all concerned.
While members from the ruling and opposition spoke expressing their views after the resolution was moved, there were a few verbal exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches.
BJP’s Ram Kumar Gautam passed a remark at Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda, which was later expunged by the Chair.
Congress member Geeta Bhukkal launched an attack on Gautam, making some remark, prompting the speaker to tell the opposition member not to indulge in personal attacks.
The ruling benches also took exception to the remark made by Bhukkal while targeting Gautam, with minister Arvind Sharma saying the Congress benches should apologise.
Congress member Ashok Arora said though Bhukkal did not mean to say any such thing, but they express regret if anyone’s sentiments were hurt.
Speaking on the resolution, Saini said the teachings and messages of saints are not confined to any particular section of society, but serve as a source of inspiration for the entire society and humanity.
Saini said the Gurus had given society the message of rising above narrow considerations and working for the larger good. It is our collective responsibility to carry this message forward to future generations, he added.
This House paid homage to Guru Ravidas while remembering the teachings he gave to all humanity. It also resolved to celebrate the nationwide ‘Guru Ravidas Maharaj Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan’, dedicated to his 650th Prakash Parv, in a dignified manner.
“This House believes that, as a true expression of reverence for Shri Guru Ravidas Ji, there is a need to take his immortal teachings to every citizen of Haryana, so that the state’s proud tradition of mutual cooperation and brotherhood remains unbroken,” stated the resolution.
Saini appealed to all members to rise above other considerations, work collectively to take the resolution forward and ensure that the teachings and messages of saints and great personalities reach every section of society.
The Abhiyan seeks to take Guru Ravidas’ timeless message of equality, compassion, service, devotion, social justice and social harmony to every section of society and further strengthen social unity among different communities.
The chief minister said that the Abhiyan was launched from Seer Govardhanpur in Varanasi, the birthplace of Sant Ravidas.
He further said that on the occasion, a ‘kalash’ containing the sacred soil of his birthplace was reverently honoured and thereafter handed over to representatives of various states across the country.
He said that the Kalash Yatra carrying the sacred soil from the birthplace of Guru Ravidas reached Haryana on August 4. A grand welcome ceremony was organised on August 5, at the Mata Sheetla Temple complex in Gurugram.
The kalash brought to Haryana is being taken to the district and village levels, where devotees are mixing the sacred soil with the soil of local temples and taking Sant Ravidas’ message of social harmony to the people, he said. PTI SUN KSS KSS
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