NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has come down heavily on the BJP-led Central Government after a seminar commemorating the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji was abruptly canceled. AAP MP from Sri Anandpur Sahib and the party’s Punjab General Secretary, Malvinder Singh Kang, condemned the decision, calling it “a direct attempt to suppress Punjab’s glorious history and the legacy of its Gurus.”
Kang alleged that the university administration withdrew permission for the event under political pressure from its ‘Delhi bosses,’ suggesting interference from the Central Government. He asked pointedly, “Why is there fear in discussing the sacrifice and martyrdom of Guru Sahib? What threat does the truth of our Gurus pose to them?”
A former Punjab University student and two-time president of its student council, Kang said that Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji’s martyrdom is not only a source of pride for Sikhs but also an inspiration for all humanity. “Guru Sahib sacrificed His life not merely to protect religion, but to uphold the universal values of freedom, justice, and conscience,” he stated.
Kang accused the university of acting under direct instructions from the Centre, claiming the Vice Chancellor was “pressured by the BJP government” to cancel the seminar. He said the move reflects an ongoing attempt to erase Punjab’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage, comparing it to the earlier controversy involving the removal of Shaheed Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra’s portrait.
According to Kang, the seminar — scheduled for October 27 — was canceled because prominent Sikh scholar Sardar Ajmer Singh was invited to speak. Labeling the justification “baseless,” Kang said, “Ajmer Singh has been an active intellectual for over three decades, with no criminal record, and has addressed audiences in universities across India and abroad. Stopping him from speaking is an attack on academic freedom and free thought.”
The AAP MP has written to Vice Chancellor Prof. Renu Vig, urging her to reverse the cancellation and allow the seminar to proceed. He emphasized that Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji’s teachings should form part of the academic curriculum to inspire students with His ideals of courage and humanity.
Kang further asserted that the AAP government in Punjab stands firm in defending the state’s heritage and the rights of its youth, vowing to resist any attempt by the BJP or Central Government to stifle Punjab’s voice or distort its history.
Condemning what he termed a “pattern of cultural censorship” under BJP rule, Kang said such acts are part of a broader effort to limit discourse on Sikh history and Punjab’s icons. He urged the university to “rise above political pressure” and restore the dignity of its institution by allowing open dialogue and honoring Guru Sahib’s supreme sacrifice.
