Speed Post News Network
Patna : PM Narendra Modi will join the valedictory function of the 350th birth anniversary(Prakash Utsav) of tenth and last Guru of Sikhs, Guru Govind Singh, on January 5 at Patna Gandhi Maidan which has been named as Dashmesh Maidan. A mini Punjab with replica of Golden temple has been set up at the Maidan from where PM will address the Sikh pilgrims.
During his over two hours stay, the PM will visit the tent city, where 30,000 Sikh pilgrims from all over the country have been accommodated. Modi will have lunch at the Maidan with Sikhs. Punjab CM Prakash Singh Badal, union ministers Ravishankar Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan will also join the celebrations. Union government had contributed Rs 100 crore for the celebrations. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar will also address the Sikhs.
The PM will release a commemorative postal stamp in the memory of Guri Govind Singh who was born here. Modi had addressed a public meeting at Gandhi Maidan in October 2013 immediately after he was declared the PM candidate by the BJP. Ten people were killed and 50 injured in the serial bomb blasts at the maidan in the presence of Modi.
The SPG team reached Patna on January 3 and took control of the arrangements at Gandhi Maidan. The PM will reach here at 11.55 am and leave Patna at 2.35 pm. Entry to Gandhi Maidan was stopped by administration at 3 pm on January 4 as security precaution.
Meanwhile, Punjab CM Prakash Singh Badal predicted three/fourths majority to Akali Dal-BJP alliance in the Punjab assembly elections next month. Badal, who reached here on January 4 to participate in the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Govind Singh, said there was no nearest rival to the alliance in Punjab elections. Badal would contest the elections from Amritsar east constitutency.
Punjab government is actively associated with the Prakash Utsav and had extended financial assistance to the organisers. Punjab government officials had been camping in the state capital for last three months to monitor the arrangements at Takht Harmandir Saheb.On January 3, former chief minister of Punjab Amrinder Singh had also visited Harmandir Saheb and had praised the Bihar government for arrangements.
Ten special trains carrying pilgrims from different parts of Punjab including Fazilka and Amritsar, Rajasthan reached here on Wednesday. A special train with 1,000 Sikh pilgrims from Durg in Chhattisgarh also reached Patna Saheb station. Nitish Kumar made an aerial survey of the three tent cities at Gandhi Maidan, Bypass and Kangan Ghat with chief secretary and DGP.