Mumbai / Amritsar-On the appointment of Shri Ravindra Chavan as the President of Maharashtra State by the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Maharashtra Sikh Samaj led by Bhai Jaspal Singh Sidhu and Member of the State Minorities Commission Charandeep Happy Singh gave him a grand welcome and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Shri JP Nadda and Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis for handing over the responsibility of the State President to Mr. Chavan.He said that due to Mr. Chavan’s strong connection with the people, long public service experience, political vision and organizational efficiency, his dynamic leadership style will give new energy, direction and momentum to the BJP in Maharashtra, while the Sikh community will also get an opportunity to flourish more in the state.
A grand felicitation ceremony was organized by Maharashtra Sikh Samaj at Yashwantrao Chavan Center in Mumbai today. On this occasion, National Secretary of BJP and Cabinet Minister of Delhi Government Mr. Manjinder Singh Sirsa was the Chief Guest, while Minister of Water Resources and Disaster Management of Maharashtra Mr. Girish Ji Mahajan was present as a special guest. Apart from this, MLA Shri Prashant Dada Thakur and Chief Minister of Chief Minister’s Relief Fund Cell Shri Rameshwar Nayak also attended the event.
On this occasion, Mr. Ravindra Chavan was given a grand welcome and he was felicitated amid cheers.
On this occasion, Bhai Jaspal Singh Sidhu, head of Maharashtra Sikh Samaj and chairman of the 11-member Sikh Coordination Committee, said that under the visionary leadership of Shri Ravindra Chavan and Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis, the state government has taken a positive approach towards the concerns of the Sikh community. He expressed gratitude for important steps like formation of 11-member Sikh Coordination Committee, reorganization of Maharashtra State Punjabi Sahitya Akademi and ensuring participation of Sikh community in state level development process, appointment of Sikh representative in Minority Commission.
Bhai Sidhu said that the liberal policy adopted towards the Sikh community has strengthened the trust and emotional closeness among the Sikhs towards the BJP and the government. He said that before the last assembly elections, the Sikh community under the leadership of Saint Gyani Harnam Singh Ji Khalsa, head of Sant Samaj and head of Damdami Taksal, had issued a public appeal in support of the BJP-led Mahayutia candidates. This initiative has further strengthened the trust and cooperation between the party and the Sikh community.
He said that through the state level awareness campaign, the Sikh society has spread the progressive policies of the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” not only to the Sikhs but to every class and community.
On this occasion, Bhai Jaspal Singh Sidhu and his companions handed over a demand letter to the State President of the BJP Shri Ravindra Chavan, appealing for more representation to the Sikhs in the BJP organisation.
This includes reorganization of BJP’s state executive, district level committees, BJP Yuva Morcha and Mahila Morcha, Maharashtra BJP Sikh cell, participation of Sikh community in BJP’s transport cell and Sikh representation in BJP’s organizational structure.
He said that this would ensure active participation of Sikh youth and women in policy-making, political processes and community development.
Bhai Sidhu further said that in terms of political participation and elections, eligible persons belonging to the Sikh community should be given tickets for Municipal Corporation, Legislative Assembly (MLA), Parliament (MP) elections. Also, Sikhs should be appointed to legislative boards and local self-governing bodies and an MLC seat under the Governor’s quota should be given representation to a person from the Sikh community who has made a special contribution in the field of service, business or culture.
Bhai Sidhu also demanded the establishment of Sikh Maha Mandal on the lines of Jain Maha Mandal. He appealed for cooperation for the early implementation of the Maharashtra Punjabi Cultural and Heritage Building Project.
He emphasized the need for direct rail service from Panvel to North India, demanding direct trains from Panvel to Amritsar, Ludhiana and Anandpur Sahib for the Sikh community living in Navi Mumbai and nearby areas.
Apart from this, he has also sought to introduce a subsidized religious pilgrimage scheme for Sikh Takhts.
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