Gurpurab celebrations: Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat is mantra of our country, says PM Modi

New Delhi, Dec 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Gurpurab celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, at Lakhpat Sahib gurdwara in Kutch, Gujaratvia video conferencing.

Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said "From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, from Kutch to Kohima, the whole country is dreaming together, striving for their accomplishment together. He reminded that today the mantra of the country is - Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat. Today the goal of the country is - the revival of a new capable India. Today the policy of the country is - service to every poor, priority to every deprived."

The Prime Minister noted that after the 2001 earthquake, he had the privilege of serving this holy place by Guru's grace. He recalled that then artisans from different parts of the country restored the original glory of this place.

The Prime Minister said that by the grace of great Guru Sahib's the government got to be in a position to celebrate auspicious occasions like 350 years of Prakash Purab of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and 550 years of Prakash Purab of Guru Nanak Dev.

In recent years, the Prime Minister said, efforts were made at every level for the message of Guru Nanak Dev to reach the whole world with new energy. The Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, which was awaited for decades, was completed in 2019 by the government. Currently, 400 years of Prakash Utsav of Guru Teg Bahadur ji are being celebrated.

The Prime Minister said, of late, we have been successful in bringing the 'Swaroop' of the revered Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan to India. What can be a greater experience of Guru's grace than this, the Prime Minister exclaimed.

He added that when he went to America a few months ago, America returned more than 150 historical objects to India there. He said there is also a peshkabz or small sword, on which the name of Guru Hargobind ji is written in Persian. "It is the great fortune of this government to be able to do all this", the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister remarked that it has always been a matter of pride for Gujarat that the fourth Gursikh, of the Panch Pyare, Bhai Mokham Singh, was from Gujarat, who played an important role in the establishment of the Khalsa Panth. Gurudwara Bet Dwarka Bhai Mohkam Singh has been built in his memory in Devbhoomi Dwarka.

The Prime Minister lauded that the valour with which our Sikh brothers and sisters fought for the country's independence even under British rule, our freedom struggle and land of Jallianwala Bagh bear witness to those sacrifices.

This tradition, the Prime Minister said, is still alive and becomes all the more important in these times of 'Amrit Mahotsav' when we are remembering and taking inspiration from our past.