Congress and BJP units of Punjab criticised SGPCs move to set up a memorial for those killed during Operation Bluestar in the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar. If constructed it will affect socio-economic and communal fabric of the state and push it back to the dark days of terrorism. The memorial will create trouble and impede development, Congress leader Sunil Jakhar said on Sunday. He alleged that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was giving the entire issue a religious colour. BJP leader J P Nadda said the move to build a memorial would affect communal harmony in the state. Such measures were unnecessary and BJP has taken up the matter with Badal, he said. Bricks for the memorial were laid by the five Sikh head priests along with Akal Takht Jathedar Gurbachan Singh and SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar on the 28th anniversary of Operation Bluestar on June 6.
