I’lI invite Jathedar again: FM

LUDHIANA, Nov 18: Punjab Finance Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh today said that he had personally invited Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Sin...

LUDHIANA, Nov 18: Punjab Finance Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh today said that he had personally invited Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh for the foundation laying ceremony of the Khalsa Heritage Memorial Complex with all “due respect” and would do so again.

He, however, said that he did not know whether the Jathedar would attend the function.

The Minister, who was here to discuss arrangements for transporting people from the district to Anandpur Sahib for the function to be held on November 22, refused to comment on the Jathedar’s statement asking for details of the function so that “defects”, if any, could be removed Regarding the transportation of the people, Capt Kanwaljit Singh said that in addition to trucks, 500 buses would be arranged for the purpose.

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Asked about the controversy over the infrastructure cess, the Minister said the cess would be reconsidered at a later date.

He said the state government had asked for Rs 300 crore from the Centre as relief for damage to paddy. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had given an assurance that the matter would be taken up after November 25, he added.Elaborating on the preparations being made for the ceremony, Capt Kanwaljit Singh said that the two-and-a-half hour ceremony would be telecast live. Two horses from Hazoor Sahib would lead the procession that would start from Takht Keshgarh Sahib. The Sikh Regiment band, 300 horses and elephants adorned with ornaments from Kerala would be a part of the procession, he added.