The Tribune – SGPC asks Akal Takht chief to resolve issue with Taksal

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 29. To resolve the controversy triggered by the Damdami Taksal’s move to inscribe the name of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale at the entrance of Operation Bluestar Memorial, the SGPC today requested Akal Takht chief Giani Gurbachan Singh and Golden Temple’s Head Granthi Mal Singh to resolve the matter with the Taksal. Rajinder Singh Mehta, SGPC executive member, will coordinate the talks.

Sources said Jathedar Gurbachan Singh and Head Granthi Giani Mal Singh may meet Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa tomorrow. They said that SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar had a telephonic talk with Baba Harnam Singh.

As part of damage control, the SGPC has turned around the ‘golak’ kept inside the memorial which had Bhindranwale’s name on it. However, there are five more spots where Bhindranwale’s name has been inscribed- two marble plaques atop the memorial entrance, two aluminum plaques on either side of the staircase and a board mentioning the history of Operation Bluestar on the left side of the entrance.

The Dal Khalsa today ridiculed the SGPC president’s claim that the Taksal had kept him in the dark on the issue of dedicating the memorial to Bhindranwale. Quoting from the resolution passed at the SGPC executive committee meeting on May 3, 2012, party chief HS Dhami said it clearly stated that the “meeting authorises Damdami Taksal head Baba Harnam Singh to raise the memorial near Akal Takht in memory of Sant Bhindranwale” and others killed in the Army operation.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130430/punjab.htm#1

The Tribune – Row over plaque with Bhindranwale’s name at Bluestar Memorial; SGPC in a fix, SAD seeks answers

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 28. A day after Operation Bluestar Memorial was dedicated to Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and those killed along with him, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak committee (SGPC) seems to be in a fix. The ruling SAD too has sought answers from it on the controversy sparked by the move.

SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar had clarified yesterday that he was unaware about the Damdami Taksal’s move to name the memorial after Bhindranwale. He reiterated his stand today, claiming the curtain on the plaque that mentioned Bhindranwale’s name was removed after he had left the venue. He declined to comment further.

However, sources said the SGPC was upset with the Taksal and the controversy could widen the differences between the two. The sources said there may be a meeting between Makkar and Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa to sort out the issue tomorrow.

Further aggravating the cracks between the SGPC and the Taksal, some persons reportedly tried to uproot a signboard mentioning the history of Operation Bluestar in the Golden Temple Complex last night. But Makkar strongly denied that anything of the sort had occurred.

Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema, SAD secretary, said they were in touch with the SGPC to ascertain how this had happened.

The Taksal’s move has drawn a flak from various quarters. Former SGPC general secretary Bibi Kiranjot Kaur said if the Taksal had to dedicate the memorial to Bhindranwale, it should have been upfront about it. National Executive member of the CPI Joginder Dayal alleged that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had kept everyone in the dark over the issue.

Inscription raises eyebrows

Though the memorial has been named Gurdwara Shaheedi Yadgaar, it has been inscribed at its entrance that it has been built in memory of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and “other martyrs” of Operation Bluestar.

There are also plaques on either side of the stairs leading to the memorial that mentions the names of Bhindranwale, Bhai Amrik Singh, Bhai Subeg Singh and Baba Thahra Singh. Also, there is a board mentioning Operation Bluestar’s history in front of Gurdwara Jhanda Bunga.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130429/punjab.htm#1

The Tribune – Row over shrine takes new turn

Ferozepur, November 5. The controversy over the alleged demolition of a gurdwara on panchayat land in Fatehgarh Gehri village in Guruharsahai took a new turn today with Sikh organisations, led by Baljit Singh Daduwal, laying the stone of a new structure at the same site.

Daduwal and members of political parties, including the Congress and the SAD (Amritsar), had held a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office over the issue last Thursday. Amid heavy security today, a “Chetna Samagam” was organised in the village.

Later, the Panj Piaras laid the foundation stone of the gurdwara. Anumeet Singh Sodhi, son of the Congress MLA from Guruharsahai Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, also participated in the ceremony.

Baba Ajit Singh, Baba Harbans Singh, Bhai Balkar Singh and Bhai Resham Singh were present on the occasion. The Damdami Taksal appealed to the villagers to extend cooperation in the construction of the gurdwara.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121106/punjab.htm#12

The Tribune – Gurdwara near Miri Piri to house Operation Bluestar Memorial

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 14. Even as the countdown to the start of Operation Bluestar Memorial’s “kar sewa” on May 20 has begun, it has come to light that the memorial will be in the form of a gurdwara for which the left wing of the building located right next to Miri Piri at the Golden Temple Complex has been allocated.

The Damdami Taksal, whom the SGPC has assigned the task of raising the memorial, and other Panthic groups had been demanding a site near the Miri Piri, contending that it would be a “befitting location” as the then chief of the Taksal, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, “attained martyrdom” near the Miri Piri.

Earlier, there were reports of the SGPC allotting a site near Gurdwara Thara Sahib for the memorial. Sources, however, said the two sites (the one near Gurdwara Thara Sahib and the other near the Miri Piri) could be interlinked at a later stage in case of an expansion plan as they share a common wall.

The site near the Miri Piri has three floors with two rooms each. At present, The Guru Granth Sahib has been installed in its ground floor. The sources revealed that a gurdwara would be set up on the first floor of the building, while the ground floor would be utilised to acquaint the visitors with Operation Bluestar. The second floor may be used to showcase gold plates of the shrine, “bir” that bears a bullet mark and other such items to commemorate the Army operation. The gurdwara is likely to be named “Gurdwara Shahid Ganj Sahib”.

However, the exact nitty-gritty of the memorial will come to the fore after some time as right now Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh is in the process of developing the idea. He has been consulting Panthic personalities and experts to finalise the shape and design of the memorial for the past few days. He, however, has expressed his intent to preserve Maharaja Sher Singh Deodhi, located opposite the Miri Piri, as it bears bullet marks of Operation Bluestar.

SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar confirmed that the memorial would come up in the left wing of the building near the Miri Piri.

He said there would be a gurdwara while they would finalise the exact details of the memorial over the next two-three days.

He also said the site might be interlinked with the under-construction structure near Gurdwara Thara Sahib in future.

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The Tribune – Operation Bluestar Memorial; Debate begins over shape, design

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 7. Even as the SGPC and the Damdami Taksal are preparing to begin work on Operation Bluestar Memorial from May 20, the debate on the shape and design of the memorial has gained momentum. A majority feels that it should be different from a gurdwara.

Sikh scholar Bhai Ashok Singh Bagrian said the memorial should be simple. “It should ideally be in the form of an 84-ft ‘khanda’ having five corners,” he said, adding that he was against building a gurdwara as a memorial. “The memorial will be for the people, both Sikhs and non-Sikhs, and hence, should not be designed as a gurdwara,” he said.

He added that the memorial should not be located within the precincts of the Golden Temple Complex for the same reason.

Radical Sikh outfit Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh said the memorial should be in consonance with the importance of Operation Bluestar. Besides, there should be a gallery where photographs along with the names of “martyrs” are displayed, he added.

All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) chief Karnail Singh Peermohammed said the memorial should be a befitting tribute to “martyrs”. He felt that it should not be in the form a gurdwara. “It should be built in such a way that people can distinguish it from other structures,” he added.

However, DSGMC chief Paramjit Singh Sarna said Guru Granth Sahib’s “bir” must be installed inside the memorial. He said it should preferably be in the form of a gurdwara.

SGPC Chief Avtar Singh Makkar said: “Its shape and design will be finalised once architects submit their report to the SGPC,” he said.

The report is likely to be submitted on May 9.

Dal Khalsa objects to SGPC move

Objecting to the resolution adopted by the SGPC to install a portrait of the former chief of Budha Dal, Santa Singh, at the Central Sikh Museum, the Dal Khalsa today urged the head of the SGPC to withdraw the same. In a letter to SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, the organisation has asked him to explain on what basis the SGPC had decided to install the photo of a person who “had challenged the supremacy of the Akal Takht and violated Sikh rehat maryada”. (TNS)

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415.The Man in Blue – Damdami Taksal and Sant Samaj

I still have not got my head round the recent close cooperation between the Taksal and the Sant Samaj, with Baba Harnam Singh heading both groups.

Of course the Taksal and the Sant Samaj have things in common. They both do not believe in Guru Granth/Guru Panth as ordained by Guru Gobind Singh. They both think that the 1945 Rehat Maryada that came about after wide consultations of various Sikh institutions is no good.

They both believe in the story of Luv and Kush as the forefathers of the Gurus, they also both believe in rules not based on the Rehat Maryada and which are not based on the teachings of the Guru Granth.

The rituals of the Taksal and of the Sant Samaj differ, but both groups tend to emphasise on how to do things, instead of Guru’s emphasis on the intention with which you do things.  

Sants tend to tell their followers to give them the money and they will do the spiritual work for you. This does not agree with Taksal practice, unless ‘Baba Harnam Singh’ has changed that too.

The biggest difference between the two groups is in the political field. Most members of the Sant Samaj have been faithful servants of the various Delhi governments, while the Taksal was always a thorn in the side of Delhi.

That makes you wonder what the struggle between Bhai Ram Singh and Baba Harnam Singh was about. Was this new political direction behind the question of who should be the next Taksal Jathedar ?

I knew Bhai Ram Singh when he was one of the Granthis of Darbar Sahib. He was the only person of any weight there who helped me. That agrees with the way I was welcomed by Baba Thakur Singh when I came to take Amrit.  But Bhai Ram Singh seemed more open to Sikhs of other traditions, while in Mehta Chowk it was made clear that the Taksal way was true Sikhí.

The most amazing aspect of these new developments is that this Sant Samaj/Taksal combination works together with the Akal Takhat Jathedar and other puppets of the Badal Dal/BJP state government. That this  combination is powerful in Panjab I understand. But that educated people in the UK support this unholy alliance does surprise me.

Some groups in the UK think that a difference of opinion is an excuse to use violence. The Sikh Federation should realise that being seen together with violent groups and individuals will be used to justify the Indian anti-Khalistani propaganda. They also should realise that being together with the Sant Samaj and the Badal Dal is not a Panthic stance.       

Stop the use of violence

All Sikhs, Sikh organisations and Gurdwaré should undertake never again to use violence as a means to settle differences of opinion. There is no precedent from Guru’s days for this bad practice, the Guru taught us to stand up against injustice, not against opinions that we do not agree with.