SAD-BJP rift over memorial for 1984 ‘martyrs’ out in open

While in New Delhi,senior BJP leader Balbir Punj questioned SAD’s stand to construct a memorial to “honour terrorists”,Punjab BJP affairs in-charge Shanta Kumar,when contacted over phone,said that his party was “always against anything that honoured terrorism”. Asked whether he meant that the memorial was for honouring terrorism,Kumar said,“Yes,BJP’s stand is clear. No compromise with terrorism.”

While admitting that there was difference of opinion between SAD and BJP,he said: “Difference of opinion between coalition partners are bound to exist. We have had talks with SAD over the issue and will again hold talks.”

When contacted,state BJP chief Ashwani Sharma said: “It (Bluestar Memorial) could have been best avoided. What was the need for it now? There was no need to bring back things that had cost Punjab dearly. After June 10,the party will come up with a detailed stand and make that public.”

However,when asked whether the BJP was waiting till civic polls were over to spell out its stand to SAD,Sharma said,“It has nothing to do with the civic polls.”

The party was also likely to lodge its protest with SAD over the Akal Takht conferring of the title of Zinda Shaheed (living martyr) upon Beant Singh’s assassin Balwant Singh Rajoana.

Senior BJP leader Laxmi Kanta Chawla too minced no words to oppose the memorial. “In the first place,the memorial should not have been constructed at all. And if its construction was unavoidable,it should not have been constructed at a sacred place like the Golden Temple. It is nothing less than ignoring the sanctity of the sacred place. People are being misled over the memorial,” he said.

She also hit out at bestowing of Zinda Shaheed title on Rajoana. “Giving the title of Zinda Shaheed to someone who had murdered a chief minister and scores of other people is totally wrong. Giving this title from a scared place like the Golden Temple is all the more wrong,more than the construction of the Bluestar Memorial inside the temple,” Chawla added.

Saying that rather a memorial for all those killed during militancy in Punjab should be built,Chawla added: “As many as 63 per cent of those killed during the militancy in Punjab were Keshdharis (Sikhs). I do not mean memorial for Hindus only,but for all those who were killed at the hands of terrorists in Punjab.”

SAD spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema,however,claimed: “No one had any major objections regarding the memorial. This is evident from the fact that it has been days since the foundation was laid in May 20 and no one has raised any objections.”