President Kovind to visit Sultanpur Lodhi today

HT Correspondent letterschd@hindustantimes.com

HT Correspondent
letterschd@hindustantimes.com

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President Ram Nath Kovind will pay obeisance at Gurdwara Ber Sahib on 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak on Tuesday.

As two different functions have been organised by the state government and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), it is yet not clear where the chief guest would be heading after visiting the gurdwara.

“The President is likely to attend both the events. Chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh will receive him as per protocol and they will then head towards the gurdwara,” said a senior Punjab government officer.

Both the SGPC and Congress leaders are claiming that the President will come to their stage, but the authorities have not released any official schedule of his visit.

“The President is coming to the city in the morning and he will visit Gurdwara Ber Sahib. The further schedule has not been finalised yet,” said deputy commissioner DPS Kharbanda.

Earlier on Monday, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal and SGPC chief secretary Roop Singh said Kovind will attend the SGPC function.

However, Congress MLA Navtej Cheema claimed the President will address the gathering from the government stage.

As the two different functions have been organized by the state government and SGPC in which SAD is participating, the government and local administration in dilemma where the chief gust would be heading first after visiting the Ber Sahib.

“Due to two difference stages, the President is likely to address the both stages as CM Capt Amarinder will receive him as per protocol and later President will head towards Gurdwara,” said a senior Punjab government officer.

The both SGPC and Congress has claimed that that President will be at their stage only as chief guest to commemorate the year-long celebrations of Guru Nanak, but the authorities have not released any official schedule of his visit.

“The President is coming to the city in the morning and he will visit the Ber Sahib, Gurdwara further schedule is yet not final,” said Deputy Commissioner DPS Kharbanda, who presided over a meeting here today to finalize the arrangements for the event.

DC said that the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had performed sewa to initiate Sehaj Path of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji on November 5 and bhog would be held tomorrow in which CM along with his Cabinet colleagues and other dignitaries would attend the event

Earlier, during his speech on Monday in presence of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, SAD president Sukhbir Badal and others, SGPC chief secretary Roop Singh said that President Ram Nath Kovind, Home Minister Amit Shah, Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore among the dignitaries who will address their the stage on Tuesday.

Congress MLA Navtej Cheema said claimed that President will address the function at at Sri Guru Nanak Darbar (Main Pandal).