Jalandhar: One stage would have meant no overlap, better turnout

JALANDHAR: For many weeks, there was a tussle between the Punjab government and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) over the control of stage for big events at Sultanpur Lodhi to observe the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, which led to two parallel platforms. However, post-event analysis reveals that there would not have been much of a difference if only one stage was set for the occasion.

It was this little difference that weighed heavily and cast a shadow on festivities. Barring President Ram Nath Kovind's visit, when speeches were delivered by political leaders, there has been little difference in events run on both stages. Kirtans and religious discourses were conducted on both stages. Accomplished ragis (hymn singers) or artistes performed. All of them are already much acclaimed among people.

In fact, on the Punjab government stage, Darbar Sahib hazoori ragi Gurmeet Singh Shaant performed kirtan after Sehaj Path. On the SGPC stage, in addition to Hazoori Ragis of Darbar Sahib, Chardi Kala Jatha of US-origin Sikhs performed kirtan on Monday and Tuesday nights. While preparations for Punjab government pandal started a few months ago, work on the SGPC stage started less than a month before the events. The SGPC stage was still being given final touches on November 9.

Punjab government spent Rs 53 crore on tent cities, stage and several other amenities. SGPC spent around Rs 10 crore on setting up the stage. However, the speeches - the bone of contention - lasted for 41 minutes on SGPC stage and 48 minutes on the Punjab government stage on Tuesday. It also included felicitation of the President and time taken by respective stage secretaries. The other difference was Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh's 13-minute address, which he read out before the President arrived on the SGPC stage.

In case both sides had agreed to hold the common function on Punjab government stage, the only possible exclusion could have been former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal's address. Akal Takht jathedar and SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal would have been obvious speakers on the common stage. Congress MLA Cheema Navtej Singh and Khadoor Sahib MP Jasbir Singh Dimpa could have delivered speeches too, being the local representatives.

One stage would also have meant less eulogies for the CM and Badal. SAD chief Sukhbir Badal sat in the sangat and did not take the stage. The roles of SGPC-SAD and Congress leaders would have been shared. With a common stage, there would have been no competition between both sides in ensuring a good turnout. Efforts for ensuring good turnouts were visible, even as lakhs had thronged the town. This was apparent when a good section of people from among the sangat on both sides left after the speeches were over and religious programmes were still on. On November 5, when 'Sehaj Path' was started in the Punjab government pavilion, people were brought in special buses to ensure filling of the pandal. On November 10, the SGPC pandal was almost empty.