PM attends tercentenary celebrations of Guru Granth Sahib

Nanded, Oct 30 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said that divisive forces were at work to drive a wedge between people and urged all countrymen to unitedly fight their designs.

Dr Singh, who was here to take part in the 300th anniversary celebrations of the consecration of the Guru Granth Sahib at Nanded in Maharashtra, said ''We must get together to fight such forces that are trying to disrupt our unity. We must remember our past and should think about how to take India forward.'' His comments came in the backdrop of serial blasts that today shook Assam, the state he represents in the Rajya Sabha.

He said the Sikh community was born to protect the country and urged it to remain united and work to keep the country's security intact.

The Prime Minister said Sikhism always gave equal importance to men and women but social evils like gender inequality and female foeticide have crept in which should be completely eradicated.

Emphasising on the importance of education, he called upon the Khalsa panth to encaurage children to go to schools and also learn to conserve environment.

Earlier, the Prime Minister was felicitated with a''chola'' a saffron coloured traditional dress and a sword.

Dr Singh also released coins and a Takhat's publication 'Guru Manyo Granth' to commemorate the occasion.

In view of the celebrations, the Government has announced the renaming of Nanded Railway Station as Shri Hazoor Nanded Railway Station and Nanded Airport as Guru Gobindji Airport.

On the dais along with Dr Singh were Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Union Ministers Ambika Soni and Jaipal Reddy and Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

It was on this day in Nanded 300 years ago, that Guru Gobind Singh, the last Sikh guru, designated the Adi Granth as Guru Granth Sahib, the perpetual Guru, ending the chain of human gurus.

This day is celebrated as 'Gurta Gaddi'.

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