"Takht chief being persuaded"

ANANDPUR SAHIB, Nov 16: Punjab Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh has said that he has sent personal invitations to the jathedars of all five ...

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ANANDPUR SAHIB, Nov 16: Punjab Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh has said that he has sent personal invitations to the jathedars of all five temporal seats for the foundation laying ceremony of the Khalsa Heritage Memorial Complex, and Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh is being persuaded to attend the function.

Bhai Ranjit Singh had earlier said that he won’t attend the ceremony at Anandpur Sahib on November 22.

Kanwaljit Singh said that the Central Government is involved in the celebrations of the event and it has already declared 1999 as the year of the human spirit.

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Reacting to widespread criticism of the Punjab Government’s land acquisition drive in the city, Singh said that the compensation has been offered to the residents whose lands has been acquired in accordance with the recommendations of the District Price Fixation Committee.

Earlier, the minister reviewed the arrangements for the function at a high-level meeting of district and state officials. The minister said that he would be camping in the city from November 19 to personally monitor the work.

While the elephants from Ludhiana have arrived, the horses of the breed that belonged to Guru Gobind Singh, and traditional weapons, are reaching here shortly, he disclosed.

Two American Sikh women — Surya Kaur and Niranjan Kaur — have been assigned the job of beautifying the spot where the foundation stone for the memorial is to be placed.

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The women told the ENS that they would be displaying the portfolios of the Sikh gurus and the foundation site would be surrounded by flowers. The duo is also in charge of the Khalsa Express and the light and sound show.

Singh also said that a sword, which was gifted to Guru Gobind Singh by Bhai Dharam Singh at Abchal Nagar in Nanded, is being brought here from the Quila Mubarakpur Arms Gallery.

He said that a top military band from the Sikh Regiment is heading for Anandpur Sahib to participate in the function. “We have received a confirmation on this from the Chief of the Army Staff,” he added.

The minister said that all religious heads have been invited for the function. He said a group of Muslims was also heading for the city from Jalandhar.

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Although the gates after the names of "Panj Piaras" would be ready for a final function in April next year, makeshift gates are ready for the November 22 function, he said.