Chandigarh, December 20
Besides declaring Chamkaur Sahib as a Subdivision, the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, today announced the setting up of a centre for research in Sikh studies, an ultramodern sports training centre and a national memorial to commemorate the tercentenary of the martyrdom of two Sahibzadas and 40 other Sikhs here.

These announcements were made by the Chief Minister, while at an adjoining political rally organised by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) top Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders expressed serious concern at the growing incidence of apostasy and drug addiction among Sikh youth.

While the SGPC and SAD leaders focussed mainly on religious issues, they were the target of veiled attacks by the Congress leaders, who accused them of not only “damaging and destroying rich Sikh heritage and history in the name of kar sewa” but also for not carrying out their duties and responsibilities towards the Panth.”

The SGPC chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur, had maintained that no political speeches would be allowed as only tributes to Sahibzadas and other martyrs would be permitted from its stage.

It was probably in anticipation of a huge captive audience because of the tercentenary of the martyrdom that prompted the political parties to hold separate rallies. The response, however, was lukewarm as unlike other such historic melas and religious gatherings, no folk singers were permitted to swell the congregations.

Strong surface winds, accompanied by thunder showers early this morning were perhaps the contributing factors for keeping many devout back home.

Even the Chief Minister arrived almost two hours behind schedule for the rally, the venue of which had to be shifted to the covered auction sheds of the new grain market as the original huge waterproof pandal was damaged by the inclement weather.

Intriguingly, the national political leadership, which had been participating in similar centenary functions in the state in strength since 1999, was conspicuous by its absence here. Hardly any national leader of prominence turned up here to pay obeisance to the Sahibzadas.

The Punjab Chief Minister said there had been a long standing demand of the people of Chamkaur Sahib for getting the town upgraded as a Subdivision.

“Though it was for the Shiromani Akali Dal or the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to set up a memorial of the Sahibzadas and other Sikh martyrs here, we will not run away from our duty of raising this memorial. We want it to be unique. It is why we wanted to hold a national level competition for its concept and design . By next year, this memorial will be ready,” he announced.

Assailing the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee for demolishing almost all historic buildings, including shrines, he said it was a “great consolation that Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib and Panja Sahib in Pakistan were not under SGPC control. Otherwise, these too, would have been demolished and replaced by new gurdwaras. We must preserve our historic buildings and shrines. No other community or religion has done what the SGPC has done to its historic shrines. Why was the original Garhi of Chamkaur demolished?,” he asked.

The Chief Minister said that there was an urgent need to rewrite the Sikh history after proper research and documentation. “Realising the need for putting the Sikh history in proper perspective, we will set up a research centre here. We also want to set up a sports training centre for our youth in Chamkaur sahib.”

Earlier, the Chief Minister visited Gurdwara Katalgarh Sahib to pay his obeisance. He also laid the foundation stone of a theme park.