PM Modi to address the nation from Red Fort on Gurpurab of Sri Tegh Bahadur

New Delhi, April 21: PM Narendra Modi will be addressing the nation from the lawns of the Red Fort and not its ramparts, in the evening today. The Prime Minister’s address to the nation from the Red Fort will be to mark the 400th birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur. He will be the first prime minister to deliver a speech at the Mughal-era monument after sunset. The Red Fort was chosen as the venue for the event as it was from here that Mughal ruler Aurangzeb had given orders for the execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, in 1675, according to officials of the culture ministry.

The ramparts of the Red Fort is the high podium from where Indian Prime Ministers address the nation on Independence Day. Prime Minister Modi will speak at 9.30 pm today and his speech will be about interfaith, peace and harmony among communities, according to the ministry officials. Today’s event will have performances by 400 Sikh musicians and there will also be a langar according to sources. Modi will also release a commemorative coin and postage stamp to mark the occasion, the officials said.

Near to the Red Fort, is the Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk. It was built at the site where Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded by the Mughals, they said, adding that Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, which is near Parliament House on Raisina Hills, was built at his cremation site.