Sikh clergy fails to arrive at decision on memorial row; Takht Damdama Sahib chief, Golden Temple Head Granthi favour retaining Bhindranwale’s name on plaques

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 15. The meeting of the Sikh clergy ended on an inconclusive note here today. Terming the controversy over Operation Bluestar Memorial as an internal matter of the Sikhs, the high priests said nobody should be allowed to publicly air views on the matter.

Addressing mediapersons, Akal Takht chief, Jathedar Gurbachan Singh said nobody had the right to issue “unnecessary statements” on the row.

He said the SGPC and the Damdami Taksal would be asked to sit across the table and resolve the issue. He said they had received suggestions from various quarters which too would be discussed before a decision was arrived at.

The chances of the matter being resolved before Operation Bluestar anniversary on June 6 appear slim. On the demand by some political parties that plaques with Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale’s name be removed, he said: “It is our internal matter and we will decide on it.”

Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh and Golden Temple’s Head Granthi Giani Mal Singh, expressing their personal views, said they were in favour of retaining plaques with Bhindranwale’s name.

Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh refused to comment on the matter. He, however, said the young generation of Sikhs was in favour of retaining Bhindranwale’s name.

Asked about the Operation Bluestar anniversary, the Akal Takht chief said it would be observed at Akal Takht and not the memorial. There would be ‘Gurbani path’ at the memorial, which is in the form of a gurdwara, but akhand path would not be held there. He ducked queries on the memorial row apparently, hinting that the clergy did not want another controversy before June 6.

The SGPC and the Taksal have been at loggerheads for the past fortnight over Bhindranwale’s name on plaques installed at the memorial. Earlier, the Dal Khalsa had submitted a memorandum, requesting the Akal Takht Jathedar to resolve the memorial row “keeping the collective will of the community and historical traditions in mind.” Dal Khalsa leader Kanwarpal Singh blamed SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar for creating the controversy with his “unnecessary statements.”

The Sikh clergy also discussed the demand by non-Sikh communities that they be allowed to perform marriages as per the Sikh rituals (Anand Karaj). The Akal Takht chief said they would put forth the matter before Sikh intellectuals before taking any decision.

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The Tribune – Memorial row: Sikh clergy to meet today

Operation Bluestar Memorial

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 14. The Sikh clergy will meet here tomorrow to deliberate on the Operation Bluestar Memorial controversy that has brought the SGPC and the Damdami Taksal at loggerheads.

The Taksal had dedicated the memorial to Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale before handing over its management to the SGPC on April 27, the day the memorial was thrown open to devotees. The Taksal move was opposed by the SGPC.

Sources said the row was on the agenda of the Sikh priests. There are reports that the kin of those killed in Operation Bluestar have contended that the memorial be dedicated to all those killed in the Army operation and not a particular person.

On the other hand, the Taksal claims that they’ve named the memorial as per a resolution passed by the SGPC executive committee. Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa has already met Akal Takht chief Jathedar Gurbachan Singh and urged him to ensure that there is no “tampering” with the memorial and that the wall clock with Bhindranwale’s photograph be re-installed.

The Taksal’s move to dedicate the memorial to Bhindranwale has been opposed by the SAD’s alliance partner, BJP, as well as the Congress.

The SGPC had replaced the clock with Bhindranwale’s photograph, besides turning around the ‘golak’ inside the memorial with Bhindranwale’s name inscribed on it. There are still five sites where his name is engraved- two marble plaques atop the entrance of the memorial, two aluminum plaques on either side of the staircase leading to the memorial and a board mentioning the history of the Army operation on the left of the memorial entrance.

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The Tribune – Remove all controversial objects from Op Bluestar memorial: BJP; State chief says party to give ample time to SAD before taking any further step

S P Sharma, Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 12. BJP state president Kamal Sharma today said before taking any further step, the party would provide ample time to its coalition partner the SAD to get all objects glorifying militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from the Operation Bluestar memorial.

Sharma said following objections raised by the BJP, the SGPC (Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee) had got some of the objects removed but a few inscriptions continued to be there on marble slabs. He said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had set up a committee for the purpose, “but a few radicals were trying to create hurdles”.

“A handful of radicals are trying to keep alive their provocative agenda, which had reversed Punjab’s growth during the dark days of terrorism. Radicals are detrimental to the interests of not only Punjab but the entire country. Our state has already paid a heavy price for the decade-long violence,” he said.

Sharma claimed a phase of development had been launched in Punjab by the coalition government and the last assembly elections were fought on that (development) agenda itself. On the “differences” between the coalition partners, he said district-level coordination committees of both the parties would meet in case there were any such issues.

“The SAD is a trusted ally of the BJP and both the parties will unitedly contest the next Lok Sabha elections,” he said.

On elections to panchayati raj institutions, he said the BJP had reached a seat-sharing formula in most parts of the state. But, he affirmed, there were seats where BJP nominees were pitted against those of the SAD. “The BJP has won unopposed a zila parishad and 14 panchayat samiti seats, indicating the party is establishing its roots in rural areas of the state,” he claimed.

Sharma claimed the Congress rank and file was demoralised, as a result of which they were “circulating fabricated stories of attack on their activists”. “The peasantry is annoyed with the Congress for the move by its central leadership to levy wealth tax on farmers,” he added.

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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 – 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.

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The Tribune – Controversy Over Operation Bluestar Memorial, Alarmed, BJP seeks CM’s intervention

Sarbjit Dhaliwal, Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 29. A delegation of senior BJP leaders today urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to mediate and resolve the controversy regarding Operation Bluestar Memorial.

The memorial has been dedicated to Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Sources said the BJP leaders, including its state president Kamal Sharma, minister Madan Mohan Mittal, former minister Balramji Dass Tandon and general secretary (organisation) Ajay Jamwal held a meeting with the Chief Minister on the issue.

Expressing their unhappiness over the development, the leaders reportedly reminded Badal of his assurance in the assembly that the memorial would be a gurdwara in the Golden Temple complex.

Expressing apprehension that some radical elements may take advantage of the development and disturb peace in the state, they asked Badal to ensure that any attempt to vitiate communal harmony in the state should be foiled.

The BJP leaders demanded that the party be allocated at least 50 zila parishad seats for which polling is to be held on May 19 in the state. The BJP leaders sought seats in Bathinda, Sangrur, Mansa, Moga, Barnala and Muktsar districts from where the BJP has no representation in the assembly.

The BJP also sought seats in Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Ropar, Ferozepur districts where it has a significant vote bank.

The SAD and the BJP have decided to jointly contest the zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections. A committee of SAD leader DS Cheema and BJP leader Tikshan Sud has been constituted to decide on seat allotment.

The BJP leaders reportedly told Badal that they would want more than 25 seats and that seats in the Malwa belt would help the party keep its cadre intact.

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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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