On Tuesday 17th September, the Minister for culture, tourism and education of Punjab visited London as part of the Punjab Government's drive to boost tourism in India. Charanjit Singh Channi had been on a UK wide tour to invite 'Nanak Naam Leva' sangat to participate in the 550th Parkash Purb celebrations of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
The event was organised by Professor Peter Virdee of The Virdee Foundation at Hankies in Marble Arch where Channi appealed to the NRI tourists to visit Punjab. He emphasised that the government had made Punjab one of the most tourist-friendly destinations in the country, regardless of the current situation in India. Acknowledging the contribution of the Sikh diaspora to the UK and congratulating Rami Ranger on his peerage Channi said,
“Chief Minister Captain Amrinder Singh has especially appointed me to address the concerns of the Sikh diaspora settled in the UK.
“The Sikh community has made great strides in the UK and that is best illustrated through the exemplary works of leading figures such as Lord Loomba and Lord Rami Ranger who has recently been nominated for peerage by the former prime minister Theresa May,” he said.
Bringing to spotlight the grievances of the Punjabi and Sikh diaspora settled in the UK, Peter Virdee also requested the Punjab Government for the establishment of a new independent office. This office will ideally deal with concerns around agricultural land, safety of ancestral heritage and a bureau addressing concerns of NRI women. The event was attended by Lord Raj Loomba of The Loomba Foundation, Lord Rami Ranger CBE, and Manmeet Singh Narang Minister(Coordination), High Commission of India among other dignitaries.
The 550th Parkash Purb celebration programmes would be organised by the Punjab government from 1st to 12th November, 2019 at the holy city Sultanpur Lodhi.
