PM Modi’s message to the Sikh community is very subtle but very clear

On Sunday morning, the nation as a whole was pleasantly surprised to see Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying a surprise visit to Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib in the national capital a day after the martyrdom day of the ninth Sikh master, Guru Tegh Bahadur. In a series of tweets, which total to seven, the Prime Minister extolled the virtues of Guru Tegh Bahadur and how he gave up his life for the sake of dharma and religious freedom. PM Modi also added that he personally feels blessed to have been gifted with multiple opportunities to officially celebrate milestone Sikh anniversaries at a State level during his tenure as Prime Minister. 

The early morning visit by the Prime Minister to the Gurdwara where Guru Tegh Bahadur’s mortal remains were cremated lasted over 15 minutes, during which PM Modi interacted with the Gurdwara’s head priest and also indulged enthusiastic devotees as they took to clicking selfies and talking to him. The surprise visit comes at a time when farmers mainly from Punjab are agitating on the borders of Delhi due to their misinformed interpretation of the three revolutionary farm laws passed by India’s parliament in September, seeking to liberalise the country’s agricultural sector. 

Read more: Guru Tegh Bahadur – The Sikh Guru who died for Hindus

Currently, the various protesting farmer unions and the Central government are embroiled in a deadlock emerging due to the unions’ maximalist stance. Due to the said protests, there have been umpteen instances where Khalistanis, in cahoots with their Pakistani paymasters, have tried to spread disharmony between Hindus and Sikhs in India. 

The said Khalistanis, who have been vitiating the political atmosphere of the country for quite some time now, were at the receiving end of a rude shock this morning as the Prime Minister paid a surprise visit to one of the holiest and most revered sites in Delhi while receiving a hearty welcome therein. 

Now while most commentary is revolving around how this is an outreach by Prime Minister Modi to the protesting farmers and the Sikh community, many are failing to realise that a very strong message for Khalistanis has also been put out in the open by the Prime Minister. In fact, the first tweet of PM Modi began with a verse recited by Guru Gobind Singh in reverence of his father’s supreme sacrifice: “tilak janjuraakhaprabhtaaka, keenobadokalu meh saaka.” 

The verse roughly translates to: “He protected the forehead mark and sacred thread, which marked a great event in the dark age.” PM Modi also reminded Indians, and particularly Islamist-sympathisers about how Guru Tegh Bahadur laid down his life for the sake of Hindu dharma. For the Prime Minister to explicitly mention ‘Hindu dharma’ in his first tweet goes on to say a lot about the underlying messaging of the surprise visit. 

Guru Tegh Bahadur was assassinated on the explicit directions of Mughal tormentor Aurungzeb, who is celebrated as a hero and ‘Alamgir’ by Pakistanis and Islamists alike, upon his refusal to convert to Islam. Those who almost worship Aurungzeb are, unfortunately, the paymasters and handlers of Khalistanis. PM Modi, with today’s visit to Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib, sought to remind such elements of the cruelties which were inflicted by the Mughals on Sikh Gurus and their followers. Unfortunately, those who committed such cruelty are being celebrated as heroes by Pakistani degenerates and some within India too. These same people are the puppeteers of Khalistanis, who are playing an active role in the ongoing farmers’ protests. 

Read more: Veer Gatha – The Forgotten Warriors | Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji

True Sikhs must always maintain a safe distance from those who celebrate the Mughals as illustrious and heroic rulers of India. As for Khalistanis, who are working overtime to disgrace the Sikh community due to the criminal ignorance of historical facts, the government must come cracking down hard. 

TFI has already reported that the Ministry of Home Affairs is planning a massive crackdown on Khalistani outfits, NGOs and their foreign funding channels. Such action must continue round the clock, and must not be initiated only when Khalistanis hog the limelight. 

The Modi government, meanwhile, is all set to commemorate the 400th birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur at an official level all across India. This will be the third major Sikh centenary which Prime Minister Modi’s government will oversee under its tenure, the first two being Guru Gobind Singh’s 350th birth anniversary, and recently, Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary celebrated last year. 

Khalistanis should ideally now have their eyes opened to witness who is celebrating the life and teachings of Guru Tegh Bahadur, as opposed to those who continue to celebrate his killer.