CHANDIGARH: Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has said the Centre has “rejected” the state’s request for a special Rs 2,145 crore financial assistance for Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev’s 550th birth anniversary celebrations.
Punjab had placed the request to fund the events connected with the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev, which falls in November next year.
The Centre has cited that it has a total budget of Rs 100 crore for all commemorative functions to be organised in various parts of the country pertaining to 550th birth anniversary celebrations, Sidhu said.
“The Punjab government had demanded Rs 2,145 crore, which has been rejected. The Centre has cited that they have earmarked Rs 100 crore for the celebrations to be held all over the country. Moreover, they said out of this Rs 100 crore nearly half the amount has already been spent,” Sidhu, who is Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister, said at a press conference here.
The Congress leader released minutes of a meeting of the National Implementation Committee (NIC), headed by a central minister, held on July 30 this year, and claimed that the Centre has offered only Rs 35 crore to Punjab for the event.
Sidhu said he had earlier written to the Centre seeking special package of Rs 100 crore for the historic Jallianwalla Bagh National Monument. The letter said there should be a cafeteria, modern amenities, landscaping, world class light and sound system at this place as in April, 2019, the country will be observing 100 years of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Sidhu said though a “small amount” has been released, the Punjab government is awaiting permission from the Centre for initiating renovation works at Jallianwala Bagh.
“If Centre does not give permission, I will take it to the Cabinet. We already have Rs 8 crore (from Centre), the Punjab Finance minister has announced Rs 10 crore, we have asked for additional Rs 30 crore, but we need Centre’s permission. The Jallianwala Bagh Trust is headed by the prime minister,” he said.
He said that the work must start now “otherwise we will be left with no time. The tendering process will take 2-3 months”.
Sidhu warned that Punjab will strongly resist any move if Jallianwala Bagh is given to any corporate house or individual entity under “adopt a heritage scheme”. PTI
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