Punjab: The Sahibzadas are not just children, but spiritual symbols, said Seechewal in Parliament.
Punjab: During the ongoing winter session of Parliament, Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal staged a protest at the main entrance of Parliament, demanding that the day commemorating the martyrdom of the younger Sahibzadas be renamed from “Veer Bal Diwas” to “Sahibzade Shahidi Diwas.” Explaining his demand, Seechewal said that on December 9, he had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and the Ministry of Women and Child Development, urging them to respect the religious sentiments of the Sikh community and change the name of “Veer Bal Diwas” to “Sahibzade Shahidi Diwas.” He stated that the sentiments of the Sikh community were disregarded when naming this day, and Sikhs have objected to this name from the very beginning. Seechewal emphasized that the Sahibzadas are not merely children; they are revered spiritual figures for the entire Sikh world.
This morning, before the commencement of the parliamentary session, Sant Seechewal staged a protest at the Parliament entrance, holding placards in both hands. Before beginning the protest, he chanted the Sikh slogan “Bole So Nihal.” Seechewal further stated that he has received a letter from Sri Akal Takht Sahib, which states that the Sikh community strongly objects to the name “Veer Bal Diwas,” which has been observed nationally since 2022 to commemorate the Sahibzadas. The letter also urged all MPs from Punjab to pressure the central government to change this name. He said that on December 15, he wanted to raise this issue during the Zero Hour in Parliament, but due to the uproar and disruptions by the BJP, the Zero Hour proceedings could not take place, and the issue remained unresolved. Sant Seechewal said that with only one day left in the winter session of Parliament, he decided to stage a protest to draw attention to this sensitive issue. He emphasized that this is a matter concerning the entire Sikh community, and every Sikh and every Punjabi should raise their voice on this issue.
