Bluestar memorial dedicated to Bhindrawale,’84 ‘martyrs’; SGPC,Akal Takht chiefs unaware

Notably,a controversy had erupted last year after the SGPC executive committee announced the setting up of the memorial and assigned the work to Damdami Taksal. The SAD’s alliance partner BJP and Congress had opposed the memorial fearing that it could vitiate the atmosphere in Punjab.

To diffuse the situation,particularly in the light of the fact that the most vocal opposition to the memorial came from BJP,SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar announced that the structure would not have any names or photos,but would only come up as gurdwara dedicated to the martyrs of the army operation of 1984.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal too had asserted that a religious monument,it will not be dedicated to anyone by name. Both had maintained that like other Sikh shrines,only Guru Granth Sahib will be adorned in the memorial gurdwara.

However,the memorial ,which was unveiled today after the bhog of Akhand Path that began on Thursday,has a wall clock with Bhindrawale’s photograph embossed on it. A banner was also put outside the memorial dedicating it to Bhindrawale.

The fact that the memorial has been named after Bhindrawale came to light only after the SGPC president Makkar,Akal Takht chief Giani Gurbachan Singh and others had left after Makkar was handed over the keys to the memorial by Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Khalsa. It was then that Khalsa,the 16th chief of the Sikh seminary,unveiled the inscription on the entrance.

Makkar claimed to be unaware about the development. “I am not aware if they have mentioned Bhindrawale’s name. It was supposed to be a gurdwara and was supposed to not have any names and photos of anyone. I will discuss the issue with Akal Takht chief. The matter will be discussed in SGPC also.”

incidentally,Akal Takht chief Giani Gurbachan Singh,when contacted,also expressed ignorance. “I am not aware whether any name has been written. I would speak to Sant Giani Harnam Singh Khalsa and the issue would be sorted out. Naam vaise likhya geya hona,asin is nu theek kar lawange (Name might have been got written,we will get it corrected ),”Singh said.

Apart from the inscription at the entrance,another inscription near the stairs leading to the memorial dedicates the gurdwara to Bhindrawale and “martyrs Bhai Amrik Singh Ji,General Sardar Subeg Singh Ji,Jathedar Baba Thahra Singh Ji and other Singhs who attained martyrdom in 1984 attack at Golden Temple Akal Takht by Congress Government of Hindustan”.

Radical Sikh outfit,Dal Khalsa termed the the memorial as “a befitting reply to all those who have been telling the Sikhs to forget the events of 1984”.

In a joint statement,party head H S Dhami and spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said: “Memorial would also convey the message that Sikhs have deep respect for the martyrs of the faith. The memorial will be a step towards recognising the martyrdom of those who fought till their last breath against the desecration of Darbar Sahib and Akal Takht.”

Meanwhile,successive speakers including chiefs of SGPC and Akal Takht slammed the Centre for the 1984’s army operation at the Golden Temple in their speeches.