Punjab Outlook

Amritsar – Punjab BJP spokesperson Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiala has appealed to the Central Government to declare the 350th Martyrdom Anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji as a National Martyrdom Day and to rename Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport as ‘Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Hind Di Chadar International Airport’.
Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Prof. Khiala stated that Indira Gandhi, in whose name the current Delhi airport is named, ordered a military attack on Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) in June 1984 for political motives, leading to the deaths of thousands of innocent Sikh pilgrims. Following her assassination, Congress leaders orchestrated a brutal massacre of Sikhs across India.
He emphasized that instead of honoring such a controversial figure, the airport should be named after Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji, who was a true national hero, representing justice, religious tolerance, and secular values.
Prof. Khiala noted that the people of India can never repay the supreme sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, who laid down his life to defend Hindu dharma, religious freedom, shared cultural heritage, and human dignity. His martyrdom is not just a matter of pride for the Sikh community, but for the entire nation.
He highlighted that the entire Sikh Panth and Nanak Naam Leva Sangat are engaged in grand preparations to commemorate the 350th Shaheedi Diwas on November 25. If we truly wish to pay tribute to his sacrifice, he said, the Central Government should make this historic gesture this year.
He asserted that renaming the Delhi international airport after Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji would also serve as a way to educate international visitors about his unparalleled martyrdom and contribution.
Prof. Khiala further proposed:
A special development plan should be prepared for sites associated with Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, turning them into heritage and interfaith tourism destinations.
The life, teachings, and martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji should be included in national school and university curricula.
Debates, essay competitions, and poetry recitations should be organized across schools, colleges, and universities to educate the youth.
Commemorative coins and postal stamps should be issued to mark the 350th anniversary.
Special broadcasts and documentaries on Sikh history and martyrdom should be aired on national media.
The Ministry of External Affairs should be directed to raise Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s message of religious freedom and universal brotherhood at global forums like the United Nations and UNESCO.
He also appealed for November 25 to be declared a public holiday, and urged that a central event be held in Delhi led by the President or the Prime Minister.
In conclusion, Prof. Khiala asserted that honoring the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji is not just a desire of the Sikh community, but a national duty. He said that beyond symbolic acts like bowing at gurdwaras, governments must take concrete and policy-level actions in the name of the Gurus, so that future generations may understand and embody the teachings and sacrifices of Sikh Gurus and martyrs.