The Punjab Assembly has approved a resolution imposing a ban on the sale and consumption of liquor, meat, tobacco and other intoxicants in three areas of the state after declaring them holy cities. The declaration covers Anandpur Sahib in Rupnagar district, Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda and the Galiara area surrounding the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
The resolution, moved by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during a special session convened to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur in Anandpur Sahib, states that a complete prohibition on liquor, meat and tobacco products will apply in these locations.
This was also the first time a Punjab Vidhan Sabha session was held outside the state capital as part of the tributes to Guru Tegh Bahadur. As part of the commemorative events, the state government has been hosting programmes since November 23, which continue today.
Addressing reporters in Anandpur Sahib after the resolution was passed unanimously, Chief Minister Mann said people had long sought holy-city status for these places. “Our government is blessed to have taken this decision. The special session will be remembered for a long time for this move,” Bhagwant Mann said.
The three newly designated holy cities are home to three of Sikhism’s five ‘Takhts’—Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Amritsar), Sri Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda) and Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib (Sri Anandpur Sahib).
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