EDUCATION MINISTER UPINDERJIT KAUR GREETS PEOPLE ON THE EVE OF BIRTHDAY OF SRI GURU GOBIND SINGH JI

Chandigarh, January 4, 2009

Dr. Upinderjit Kaur, Education and Languages Minister Punjab today greeted the people on the occasion of Guru Gobind Singh Ji's birthday, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs.

In her message on the eve of this auspicious occasion, she said that Guru sahib inspired us to tread the path of sacrifice, truthfulness and universal brotherhood. He believed in creating a fearless society based on the principles of equity, compassion and resistance against tyranny and injustice, the Minister added.

She said that "Sant Sipahi" Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji's was a noble and pious soul whose sacrifice for preserving human and secular values is unique. "He sacrificed his father, mother, four sons, his beloved followers and himself. His un-paralleled heroism, administrative skills, literary pursuits, military prowess and his boundless love for humanity has inspired Sikhs for generations," he said.

She called upon people to follow the high ideals and tenets of the great Guru and to re-dedicate themselves to the service of the nation and of mankind.

PRSS NOTE

Chandigarh January 4, 2009

The Punjab Government and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) sanctioned Rs. 8176.96 lacs to upgrading technical institutions in the state.

This was disclosed by a spokesman of the Punjab Government said that Rs. 8176.96 lacs are sanctioned out of which 6187.24 lacs are NABARD loan and Rs. 1989.72 lacs would State Government contribution to upgrade two engineering colleges into multidiscipline academies, construction of one new multi-discipline academy and three new polytechnics institute in the state.

He further said that the main object to sanction the money would strengthen of technical institutions in the state, he added.

PUNJAB CM GREETS PEOPLE ON THE EVE OF BIRTHDAY OF SRI GURU GOBIND SINGH JI

CHANDIGARH, JANUARY 4:

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today extended his warm greetings to the Punjabis on the birthday of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji- the tenth Guru of the Sikhs and exhorted them to follow the noble teachings and precious legacy of great Saint Soldier.

In a message on the eve of auspicious birthday of the great Guru Sahib, Mr. Badal said that Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji preached and practiced the gospels of love, oneness of mankind and universal brotherhood throughout his life. Mr. Badal said that the creation of Khalsa by great Guru in 1699 had a universal significance by which he raised an unifying vanguard force in the world ever ready to make supreme sacrifices for achieving the goals of justice, equality, social good and protection of fundamental rights of humanity. The order of the Khalsa was more emphatically an egalitarian social order. He molded the Sikhs through the sacrament for the nectar (AMRIT) into saint soldier for upholding the values of dharma, humanism and secularism.

The Chief Minister appealed the people to collectively strive hard for carving out a healthy and harmonious society by following the precious legacy of Guru ji and celebrate this occasion rising above the petty considerations of caste, creed and religion