History will be kept fresh, and the fallen alive in memory. Exact 27 years after Operation Bluestar, Sikh decided to build memorial in the name of innocents killed by Indian Army during operation Bluestar.
SGPC agreed to raise a memorial to the Sikhs killed in the army’s operation in June 1984. Avtar Singh Makkar, president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), addressed a gathering at the Akal Takht on the 27th anniversary of the army operation. He paid tributes to the Sikhs killed in that action, and in keeping with the decision taken in the SGPC executive body in the past, gave his consent to building a memorial.
In another two days, a five member committee will decide on the design and location of the “martyrs’ memorial“. It will be free to consult experts and different Sikh organisations. “It will submit its report in two months,“ said Makkar.
Sikhs long-standing demand has been considered. They will be eagerly waiting for the report.
“The wounds of 1984 have not healed,“ said the Akal Takht jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh. “Young Sikhs continue to languish in jails and there’s no efforts from the government to free them.“ He called upon all Sikh organisations and the “sangat“ to strive for the freedom of the Sikhs imprisoned since the days of militancy.
The SGPC is on with a signature campaign at the village level for saving Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) militant Devinderpal Singh Bhullar from the gallows after the President last month turned down his mercy petition.
After the “bhog“ ceremony in the memory of the “martyrs“, the jathedar honoured the close relatives of Bhindranwale, Bhai Amrik Singh, Baba Thara Singh, and Shahbeg Singh, all of whom were killed in the 1984 army operation.
On the demand of certain sections to declare the four “Panth Ratan“, the jathedar said the status of “martyrs of the community“ was above any other title. Members of the Akal Purakh Ki Fauj donated blood outside the shrine and at the other places in the city.
