Auckland, July 12 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday recounted a little-known chapter of Sikh history, saying Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri's family had preserved the sacred "Jore Sahib"(holy footwear) of Guru Gobind Singh and Mata Sahib Kaur for nearly 300 years before handing the relics over to the Sikh community for permanent public "darshan".

Addressing the Indian diaspora in Auckland, Modi said Puri had told him that his ancestors, who were devoted followers of Guru Gobind Singh, had safeguarded the sacred footwear through generations and carried it safely to Delhi during the Partition of 1947.

"I am delighted that these sacred 'Jode Sahib' are now on the holy soil of Patna Sahib, and it was my privilege to witness tha...