A special session of the Punjab Legislative Assembly on Tuesday witnessed a united front from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the main opposition Congress as they took on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the Centre's decision to name the day marking the martyrdom of the Sahibzadas as 'Veer Bal Diwas'. The session, originally convened to discuss the replacement of the MGNREGA scheme, quickly became a platform for a heated debate on historical interpretation and religious sentiment.
Opposition Accuses Centre of Distorting Sikh History
Congress MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh led the charge, commending AAP MPs Malwinder Singh Kang and Balbir Singh Seechewal for their stance. He argued that the term 'Veer Bal' does not align with established Sikh tradition, where the sons of Guru Gobind Singh are revered as 'Baba' and worshipped as eternal symbols of supreme sacrifice and spiritual strength. "History is being distorted before our eyes," Singh asserted, claiming the nomenclature hurt religious sentiments.
He demanded that the state assembly pass a resolution urging the Union government to refrain from interfering in Sikh religious affairs and historical narratives. The core accusation was that the BJP-led Centre was attempting to rewrite and appropriate Sikh history for political ends.
BJP's Defence and Call to Avoid Politicisation
In response, BJP MLA Ashwani Sharma defended the initiative, stating that the day was meant to teach children across India about the supreme sacrifice of the Sahibzadas. He emphasized that the focus should be on spreading their history in its true form rather than engaging in political wrangling over the name's origins. Sharma reiterated Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent remarks highlighting Guru Tegh Bahadur's role in protecting religious freedom.
When Punjab Minister Aman Arora pressed him to reveal who had proposed the name 'Veer Bal Diwas', Sharma declined, stating that the occasion of paying tributes should not be politicised. He even sought an apology for the demand to disclose the name.
Broader Demands and Session Criticism
Joining the chorus, AAP's Aman Arora supported the demand for the Centre to rename the day as 'Sahibzade Shaheed Diwas'. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Nachhatar Pal suggested building memorials for martyrs to educate future generations.
Separately, Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira (Bholath) objected to the increasing reliance on special sessions, alleging they replace regular monsoon and winter sittings. He criticized the curtailment of Question Hour and Zero Hour, which he said denied elected members their right to proper debate and scrutiny of the government.
The special session, therefore, highlighted not just a contentious issue of historical and religious identity but also sparked a meta-debate on the functioning of democratic institutions in the state.
