Sri Anandpur Sahib, June 17: Union Food Processing Industries Minister Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal today gave a clarion call to stop discrimination against girls and said elimination of gender discrimination would go a long way in shaping a healthy society and nation.
While presiding over a mammoth congregation in Mata Nanki Istri Gurmat Samagam here on the beginning of three day long celebrations of 350th anniversary of the foundation of Sri Anandpur Sahib, Mrs. Badal said women should take the lead in purging gender discrimination from society.
Recalling the role played by women to safeguard and strengthening of Sikh Panth, Mrs. Badal said we all should learn a lesson from the lives of those brave women who had served as forerunners in protecting the rights and interests of women. “We should tread the path shown by these great women”. She also called upon the women fraternity to make Mai Bhago their ideal to combat social menaces.
Paying obeisance to great Sikh Gurus and the sacred land of Sri Anandpur Sahib, Mrs. Badal said this was not only sacred land but that historic place where 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh Ji formed Khasla Panth on 13 April 1699. Welcoming the Sangat thronged from across the globe to participate in 350th years of foundation day, Mrs. Badal said that our Gurus had made peerless sacrifices against the tyranny of the then rulers and we have a big responsibility to fulfill the dreams dreamt by our Gurus. Mrs. Badal also thanked Punjab Government and all religious institutions for celebrating this mega event on such a large scale.
Meanwhile, the Members of Istri Akali Dal under the leadership of President of Istri Akali Dal Bibi Jagir Kaur honoured Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal with a siropa (a robe of honour).
Other prominent women leaders present on the occasion included Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Mrs. Farzana Aalam, Mrs. Vaninder Kaur Loomba, Mrs. Harpreet Kaur Mukhmailpur, both MLAs, Former MP Bibi Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, Chairman Punjab State Women’s Commission Bibi Paramjeet Kaur Landra, Member Punjab State Women’s Commission, Bibi Amanjot Kaur Ramoowalia, Chairperson District Planning Committee, Bibi Veerpal Kaur Tarmala, SGPC Member Bibi Kiranjot Kaur, former Mayor Mrs. Harjinder Kaur, Bibi Gurdev Kaur Sangha and Bibi Rajwinder Kaur Raju, both Senior Vice Presidents of Istri Akali Dal, Mrs. Manju Qureshi, Bibi Satbir Kaur Manhera etc.