AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday, 18 June 2026, paid homage to the Fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, on the occasion of the Guru's Shaheedi Diwas (martyrdom anniversary), invoking the Guru's message of universal equality and collective humanity.

Posting in Punjabi on X, Kejriwal wrote: 'ਸ਼ਹੀਦਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਿਰਤਾਜ, ਪੰਚਮ ਪਾਤਸ਼ਾਹ ਧੰਨ-ਧੰਨ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਅਰਜਨ ਦੇਵ ਜੀ' ['Crown of martyrs, the Fifth Sovereign, the blessed Guru Arjan Dev Ji'], offering 'crores of salutations at the Guru's feet.' He further noted that Guru Sahib gave all of humanity the message to abandon distinctions of high and low, and to embrace the spirit of sarb-sanjhivalat — universal brotherhood and shared belonging.

Context

Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the Fifth Sikh Guru, is revered as Shaheedan de Sirtaj — the 'Crown of Martyrs' — for becoming the first Sikh Guru to be martyred. In 1606, he was executed on the orders of Mughal Emperor Jahangir after refusing to alter verses in the Adi Granth, the sacred scripture he had compiled, or to pay a heavy fine imposed by the imperial court. His martyrdom is commemorated annually by Sikhs across India and the global diaspora.

The Shaheedi Diwas is among the most solemn observances in the Sikh calendar, marked by special prayers, kirtans, and langars (community meals) at gurdwaras. The date is observed according to the Nanakshahi calendar, the official Sikh lunar-solar calendar adopted by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.

Policy Backdrop

Kejriwal's tribute follows an established pattern among Indian political leaders of issuing public messages on major Sikh Guru anniversaries. Such observances carry particular resonance in Punjab, where the Aam Aadmi Party has governed since its landslide victory in the February 2022 assembly elections, and in Delhi, home to one of the largest urban Sikh populations in the country.

The Guru's foundational teachings — rejection of caste hierarchy, service to all (seva), and the oneness of humanity — have long been invoked across the political spectrum during community outreach. Kejriwal's choice of Punjabi for the post, rather than Hindi or English, signals a deliberate cultural alignment with the Sikh community and Punjab-based voters.

Stakeholders and Impact

The message is directed primarily at the Sikh community, which numbers over 2 crore in India and constitutes a significant portion of the electorate in Punjab, parts of Haryana, and Delhi. The Aam Aadmi Party's political fortunes in these regions remain closely tied to its relationship with Sikh religious sentiment and community institutions.

The emphasis on sarb-sanjhivalat — a Punjabi concept denoting universal inclusivity and shared ownership of social spaces — echoes the egalitarian ethos that AAP has consistently projected as a core political value. Observers note that such messaging reinforces the party's positioning as a secular, community-inclusive force during religiously significant periods.

What's Next

The Sikh religious calendar carries several more major observances through the remainder of 2026, including the Shaheedi Diwas of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the Ninth Sikh Guru, and the annual Nagar Kirtan processions in Punjab and Delhi. Political leaders across parties are expected to mark these occasions with similar public tributes. For AAP, maintaining visible engagement with Sikh commemorations will remain central to its electoral strategy in Punjab ahead of the next state assembly cycle.