On the 400th birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the first prime minister to deliver a speech at the Mughal-era landmark after sunset, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the country from the Red Fort on Thursday night (April 21). Modi will address the country from the Red Fort’s lawns rather than its ramparts.
According to officials from the culture ministry, the fort was chosen as the venue for the event since it was from here that Mughal ruler Aurangzeb sent orders for the execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, in 1675. On Independence Day, prime leaders address the nation from the Red Fort’s ramparts.
According to officials, Prime Minister Modi will speak at 9.30 p.m. on Thursday, and his speech will focus on interfaith peace and harmony among communities. This will be Modi’s second speech from the monument, following his speech on Independence Day. In 2018, he raised the national flag at the monument to honour the 75th anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s founding of the Azad Hind Government. His speech was given at 9 a.m. on this occasion.
There will be 400 Sikh musicians performing during the Thursday celebration, as well as a langar. Officials said Modi will also issue a commemorative coin and postal stamp to celebrate the event. The Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk is close to the Red Fort. They said it was built on the location of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s beheading by the Mughals, and that Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, near Parliament, was built on his cremation place.
The event, which will be attended by 11 chief ministers and notable Sikh leaders from around the country, will be kicked off by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday. Families of 400 Sikh ‘jathedars,’ including those from Amritsar’s Golden Temple, have also been invited.
