HYDERABAD:Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday announced a slew of sops for the Sikh community living in Telangana state.
He announced that the State government would declare a public holiday on Guru Nanak birth anniversary from next year, a order to this effect would be issued in a day or two.
Apart from declaring a public holiday on Guru Nanak Jayanthi, the chief minister also announced to extend certain government schemes to the economically poor Sikhs living in the state.
Participating in the 545th Prakash Utsav (birthday celebrations) of Guru Nanak Devji, founder of Sikh religion at Exhibition Grounds in Nampally on Thursday, Chandrasekhar Rao said that financial assistance of Rs 51,000 on the lines of Kalyana Lakshmi scheme would be extended to the economical poor Sikh brides at the time of their wedding.
The state government would provide about three acres of land in Hyderabad and Rs 1 crore for construction of community hall for Sikhs for performing functions.
Rao said that his dream was to see a biggest gurudwara come up in South India in the city. On his behalf, he announced to give Rs 1.16 lakh cheque to the Prabhandak Committee of Gurudawara Guru Singh Sabha.
When the Sikhs requested for reservations either in minority quota or in the BC quota, the chief minister wanted them to submit a representation to him for his consideration. The Sikhs would also come under BC quota in Telangana and also under Minority quota. “Give me a representation, I will consider the demand to provide reservation to you,” Rao told Sikhs brethern.
He hailed Sikhs as sincere and hardworking people. ‘’You won’t find Sikhs begging for alms anywhere in the world, they believe in hardwork and earn money through sincereity’’ Chandrasekhar Rao said.
He said Guru Nanak stood for national integration, peace, brotherhood and communal harmony and devotees should follow the teachings of Guru Nanak which are very relevant these days.
Meanwhile, the five-day festivities of Guru Nanak celebrations concluded on Thursday with thousands of Sikhs celebrating it with religious fervour, gaiety and devotion by offering prayers at the Exhibition Grounds. The congregation was marked by recitations of Gurubani Keertans and Kathas (holy hymns) by renowned Ragi Jathas (Sikh Preachers).
After the culmination of the congregation the traditional Guru-ka-Langar (free community kitchen) was served to all the devotees. Prabhandak Committee presidents S Kuldeep Singh Bagga and S Baldev Singh Bagga welcomed the devotees.