Sikh Organisation in Punjab on Tuesday came out with an updated directory of several ‘martyrs’ who died ‘defending’ the Akal Takht – the highest temporal seat of Sikhism – during Operation Bluestar, launched by the army to flush out Sikhs from the Golden Temple complex in June 1984.
The release of the directory on the eve of the anniversary of Bluestar significantly coincides with the recently commenced work to set up a memorial to eulogise various Sikh leaders including Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. The work to set up the memorial has been undertaken by Damdami Taksal. The development on the eve of the 28th anniversary of Bluestar, which hinted at desperate attempts of different Sikh groups to get-together, has raised an alarm in the national security and investigating agencies.
Former Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh said it was wrong to set up the memorial. He also condemned the attempts to glorify Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted of murdering former chief minister Beant Singh. The Congress veteran said Punjab could not afford monuments like the Bluestar memorial because they did not send the right signals. We must look forward,’ he said. The directory was released by Harnam Singh Khalsa, head, Damdami Taksal – the Sikh seminary – at Amritsar amid resounding slogans of Jo Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akal and Raj Karega.
The representatives of different radical groups and families of people listed in the directory were also present on the occasion. A copy of the directory was given to Ishar Singh, son of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who spearheaded the pro-Khalistan armed struggle in 1980s, which culminated in Operation Bluestar. The proclaimed alliances of the radical groups with Islamists and other minorities ‘to wage a joint struggle against the state oppression and terrorism’ also surfaced on the occasion.
Leader of the breakaway faction of the Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, in a message sent to Dal Khalsa – a radical group – said that suffering at the hands of ‘a common tormenter’ brought Sikhs and Kashmiris together. The directory brought out by Dal Khalsa includes the profiles of 220 people. The book also carries the messages of Geelani and Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa. Dal Khalsa founder Gajinder Singh wrote a note in the directory to ‘pay tribute to martyrs’. Gajinder is currently in exile. H.S. Dhami, head, Dal Khalsa, has written in the editorial message that the group attempted to bring on record the profiles of ‘unknown and unsung heroes’ of the ‘Sikh struggle’. Dhami said Bluestar had become part of the Sikh folklore.
News Source: Daily Mail
