Rajasthan to establish Sikh heritage site

Rajasthan is all set to establish a Sikh heritage site in Jaipur, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje announced yesterday.

Addressing a huge gathering at the Mata Ganga Sikh Istari conference organised by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to commemorate the 400th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev, Raje announced the arrangement of the land for completion of the sarovar (pond) at Gurudwara Sohava Sahib in Rajasthan's Churu district.

"Rajasthan has already established a Punjabi academy in Jaipur and a Sri Guru Gobind Singh chair in Jaipur University," she said.

Saying that her government had done a lot for the betterment of women, Raje commended the role of Parkash Singh Badal who was the first to sign the Women's Reservation Bill.

"We have decided to charge half of the total amount of registration fees on all land registered in the names of women," she said.

Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj urged women to teach their children the history of the Sikh religion and the teachings of Sikh gurus.

Shiromani Akali Dal President Parkash Singh Badal said social evils like female foeticide and drug addiction could only be eradicated with the help of women.

Demanding a ban on production of opium and other drugs, he appealed to Raje to impose a ban on the production of poppy husk in Rajasthan. Badal honoured Raje, Swaraj and other dignitaries on the occasion.