Row erupts over fancy dress contest to mark Sahibzadas’ martyrdom
The state government’s Veer Bal Diwas programme—observed on the martyrdom day of Guru Gobind Singh’s younger sons—has come under scrutiny after districts were instructed to hold a “fancy-dress competition” for children. The directive has angered the Akal Takht, the SGPC, and Sikh intellectuals, who demand a complete ban on depicting Sikh gurus or their family members in any form.