The Tribune – Memorial row: Takht chief’s decision final, says SGPC

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 10. Avtar Singh Makkar, SGPC president, today said any decision taken by the Akal Takht chief, Jathedar Gurbachan Singh, on the Operation Bluestar Memorial controversy will be final.

The SGPC and the Damdami Taksal have been at loggerheads for the past couple of weeks with the latter dedicating the memorial to Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

Talking to mediapersons after the SGPC executive committee meeting here today, Makkar said the issue was pending before the Akal Takht Jathedar. The Taksal had submitted a memorandum to him on the matter.

Emphasising the SGPC would honour any decision taken by the Akal Takht chief, he denied the Taksal’s allegation that SGPC workers had tried to uproot a board mentioning the history of Operation Bluestar.

On the issue of capital punishment to Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, he said Germany had rightly put pressure on India against executing the death sentence.

He wondered as to why the government could not commute Bhullar’s death sentence when it had done so in the case of Kishori Lal who had butchered 34 Sikhs during the 1984 riots.

Makkar said a world-class Sikh museum would be constructed at a cost of Rs 100 crore at the Akali Market.

He said the langar building in the Golden Temple complex would be renovated with a modern kitchen.

Soon, a linear accelerator machine valued at Rs 12.5 crore would be installed at Shri Guru Ramdas Hospital for the benefit of cancer patients. A building had already been constructed for the purpose at cost of Rs 1 crore.

Makkar said efforts were afoot to enhance the number of MBBS and MD seats at the college.

The number of MBBS seats had already been increased from 100 to 150.

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The Tribune – BlueStar memorial; Punjab wants inscriptions on Bhindranwale to go

Jangveer Singh, Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 6. The Punjab Government is keen to remove the inscription listing separatist leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale’s name from the “Yadgar” memorial erected in memory of those killed during Operation Bluestar despite pressure from the Damdami Taksal that led a march to the Akal Takht today to thwart any such move.

Sources said the inscription at the entrance of the memorial and the plaques on either side of the stairs leading to it mentioned about separatist leaders. This was in direct contravention of the assurance made by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in the state Assembly that the memorial would be a simple gurdwara only.

Sources said while the developments embarrassed the Chief Minister, these had also made him lose face vis a vis his alliance partner-the BJP-which is extremely unhappy at the turn of recent events.

Observers feel the Chief Minister was essentially a moderate and hence could not allow Bhindranwale’s name to be projected in the manner done by the Damdami Taksal.

The SAD has reportedly taken up the issue with Damdami Taksal and members of the Sant Samaj spearheading the current campaign to ensure that the inscriptions are not removed.

As per the SAD stand, an understanding was arrived at with some radical elements to pave the way for the establishment of memorial. Despite it being a 20-year-old demand, memorial could not take shape as there was no unanimity on its shape.

A section of radical elements, including the Sant Samaj, approached both the CM and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal after coming to an “understanding” that all other parties were misleading the radical leaders and put their “trust” in the Badals on the issue.

This helped the SAD to get support of the Sant Samaj for the 2012 Assembly elections. The Sant Samaj also earned legitimacy by getting a long-pending demand “fulfilled”.

SAD sources claim it was decided that a memorial to all those who were martyred during Operation Bluestar should come up on the Darbar Sahib complex. This is disputed by the Damdami Taksal which claimed the purpose of the memorial all along had been to commemorate the “martyrs”, including Bhindranwale.

The SAD claims the Taksal has “deviated” from this understanding and that no personality-centric memorial should be allowed on the Darbar Sahib complex.

The SAD and the government is, however, wary of the Damdami Taksal because the latter is not willing to let go of the “success” achieved by it on the issue.

Sources said the Damdami Taksal and its head Harnam Singh Dhumma felt it had “achieved” something which no other radical leader had till now.

It is this which is coming in the way of an amicable “settlement” of the issue.

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The Tribune – SGPC, Damdami Taksal on collision course; Taksal chief refuses to remove engravings with Bhindranwale’s name on walls of Bluestar memorial

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 2. The stalemate between the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Damdami Taksal over the Operation Bluestar Memorial controversy continues as a meeting held between the two sides here today remained inconclusive.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, Golden Temple head granthi Giani Mal Singh and SGPC executive member Rajinder Singh Mehta were also present during the deliberations.

Sources said Makkar raised an objection to Taksal’s move to dedicate the memorial to Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and engraving his name at different points while terming it as “a direct interference” in the SGPC affairs. He said the boards and the marble on which his name had been inscribed should be removed.

Talking to The Tribune, Makkar said they would not tolerate any intervention in the SGPC functioning. He said the SGPC was in charge of the memorial’s management and it would be run as per the ‘maryada’ of the Golden Temple, which was a symbol of communal harmony and peace.

On the other hand, Taksal chief Harnam Singh Khalsa has opposed any such move. He said they had strongly resented the SGPC plan to remove the board with Bhindranwale’s name. He said the SGPC had been warned not to tamper with the memorial. He warned that if any such move was initiated, it may cause a “division in the community, for which the SGPC chief will be responsible”. He said they will present a memorandum to the Akal Takht Jathedar on May 6, urging him that the memorial’s history should not be distorted.

He said the Sant Samaj and Nihang outfits would take out a march from Chowk Mehta and reach Akal Takht in the form of a procession on May 6. He said there was widespread resentment in the Sikh Sangat over the SGPC’s move to remove the wall clock having Bhindranwale’s photograph. He alleged that Makkar’s attitude at a meeting held earlier was “dictatorial”.

The Taksal chief has called a meeting to decide the future course of action over the suggestions being given by the SGPC. Though the meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere, no decision could be reached about the contentious issue.

The opening of Operation Bluestar Memorial on April 27 here had sparked a row after it came to light that the Taksal had dedicated it to Bhindranwale. The SGPC cried foul play contending it was kept in the dark about it.

The Taksal had inscribed Bhindranwale’s name on six spots, besides putting up a wall clock with his photograph. In a damage-control mode, the SGPC had turned around the ‘golak’ with his name on it and also removed the wall clock. However, his name is still intact on five plaques outside the memorial.

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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.

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The Tribune – Operation Bluestar Memorial dedicated to community; Plaque mentions name of Bhindranwale, SGPC ‘unaware’ about it

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 27. Almost 29 years after the Army operation and a string of controversies over the last one year, the Operation Bluestar Memorial was today dedicated to the Sikh community.

Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Khalsa handed over its keys to SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar at a ceremony here. The memorial has been named Gurdwara Shaheedi Yaadgaar and its plaque mentions that it has been built in the memory of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and other “martyrs” of the Operation Bluestar in 1984.

Interestingly, the curtain from the plaque was removed after the ceremony got over. All five Takhts, the SGPC and various religious bodies felicitated Khalsa for performing the ‘kar sewa’ of the memorial. The Jathedars of all the five Takhts and the head granthi of the Golden Temple were also present.J

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said the memorial was a symbol of the Sikh community’s self-respect and would inspire the future generations to follow the Sikh tenets.

The name of the memorial has been inscribed atop its entrance while on the either sides of the stairs leading to it, the names of Bhindranwale, Amrik Singh, Shubegh Singh and Thahra Singh have been engraved. The memorial is a double-storey building. On the ground floor is the octagonal shaped memorial in the form of the gurdwara, the work on the basement is still on and, therefore, it is lying unused.

Makkar clarified the memorial will continue to exist in the form of a gurdwara and there was no plan to exhibit anything related to the 1984 Army operation on the Golden Temple.

On Bhindranwale’s name on the plaque, he said he was neither aware about it nor his advice was sought on the matter. He said he will discuss the issue with the Akal Takht Jathedar. It was decided earlier that the memorial would not be named after any particular person and instead it will be in the name of “all the martyrs”.

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The Tribune – ‘Sadda Haq’ team meets Takht chief; Matter to be discussed by five high priests, says Jathedar Gurbachan Singh

G S Paul, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 7. Led by its producer-actor Kuljinder Singh Sidhu, the crew of banned Punjabi movie ‘Sadda Haq’ today approached the Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh, urging him to intervene in the matter.

The Jathedar said the issue would be deliberated upon at the next maating of the five high priests. “The opinion of the high priests will be conveyed to the SGPC for further action,” the Jathedar said. The film crew, along with members of several Sikh organisations, performed ardas at Akal Takht.

The Punjab Government has banned the film which focuses on the dark days of militancy in the state. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), that had played a key role in getting clearance from the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) last year, has now distanced itself from the matter. Dejected, filmmaker Sidhu said the ban on his film, that had been cleared by the censor board with a U/A certificate, was arbitrary.

The film’s promotional song, ‘Baghi’ , reportedly equates Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Jagtar Singh Hawara and Balwant Singh Rajoana with freedom fighters. “Since there is no problem in letting the public watch films based on the Naxalite movement, the government appears biased in banning my film which is about a minority community,” he said.

He announced that he would move the Supreme Court against the government’s decision, if nothing else worked.

“We have requested the high priests to form a committee comprising Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Muslims to view the film for an unbiased opinion,” he said.

“It is nothing but murder of freedom of expression. The film is a true portrayal of whatever happened during the period of militancy. It is ironical that a handful of bureaucrats have given their verdict against the screening of the film on the plea that it may disturb peace and harmony. Their apprehension is totally baseless,” Sidhu added.

Anandpur Sahib: Washing his hands of the controversy, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, during his visit here on Sunday, said it was the prerogative of the state government to take a decision on whether or not to ban a film.

Makkar, who was the chief guest at an inter-state turban tying competition, said the state government had to look after law and order too.

Of the 2,000 students who participated in the ‘dastarbandi’ contest, 245 were selected for special prizes. Prabhpreet Singh of Guru Nanak Senior Secondary School, Dhannupura, Amritsar, won the first prize. Gurnoor Singh of Dasmesh Model Senior Secondary School, Doraha, and Kaka Harpreet Singh of Sahibzada Fateh Singh Public School, Malerkotla, were declared first and second-runners up.

The three were awarded a cash prize of Rs 31,000, 21,000 and 11,000, respectively.

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The Tribune – Kuldip Nayar apologises to Sikhs

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 15. Veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar today apologised to the Sikhs if any portion of his autobiography “Beyond the Lines”, released recently, had hurt the community’s sentiments.

“I have always raised my voice in favour of the Sikh Panth and have been a votary of Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiat. I have no intention of hurting anybody’s sentiments.

“As such, I have decided to delete portions of my autobiography on which objections have been raised. These parts shall not be there in the next edition of the book,” Nayar said. The columnist said he had raised his voice against the excesses committed on the Sikhs during Operation Bluestar and the November 1984 riots.

The veteran journalist had invited the ire of Sikh radicals, claiming in his book that Bhindranwale and the Dal Khalsa had the “blessings” of the Congress.

The book also claimed that the Sikh Student’s Federation chief, Bhai Amrik Singh, who died during Operation Bluestar, was an “IB agent”.

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The Tribune – Jakhar: Rein in anti-national elements

Dharmendra Joshi, Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 29. Pointing towards sloganeering in support of militancy during Punjab bandh on March 28, Congress Legislature Party leader Sunil Jakhar has urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.

Speaking at a function here today, the CLP leader said Punjabis in general and those belonging to a particular community were scared as a number of youths brandishing swords had raised slogans in support of Khalistan and Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale during Punjab bandh observed to demand clemency for Balwant Singh Rajoana.

Stating that Badal was a liberal face in his fundamentalist party, Jakhar said: He is custodian of all communities and he should ensure that such incidents should not occur as the same thing had happened before the beginning of terrorism several decades ago”.

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The Tribune – Mann claims he ordered pro-Khalistan T-shirts

Mohit Khanna, Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 23. Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann today said he had placed the order for T-shirts that carried the name and image of Khalistan ideologue Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

Hondh-Chillar whistleblower Manwinder Singh, meanwhile, denied having any link with the pro-Khalistani T-shirts seized by the Ludhiana police recently.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president said, “Why to harass Manwinder. I have placed the order for the T- shirts.

Bhindranwale is my hero.”

He said the trader was not selling weapons but simply making T-shirts. “The police has unnecessarily exaggerated the issue by showing that the T-shirt maker was indulging in anti- national activities,” he said.

Levelling allegations on the police, Mann said, “If the police seized the T-shirts due to security reasons, then why the activists were allowed to showcase the T-shirts and given the opportunity of grabbing political mileage.”

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