They had even issued a press release on Tuesday stating that Jinda and Sukhas relatives had been honoured with siropas; SGPC secretary Dalmegh Singh denied this on Wednesday,claiming that they had not honoured the kin Days after the attack on Lt Gen (retired) K S Brar in London,the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Tuesday honoured the relatives of Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha,the assassins of Gen A S Vaidya,who was the Army Chief during Operation Bluestar. Jinda and Sukha were hanged on October 9,1992,for killing Gen Vaidya on August 10,1986. While the SGPC has been reported to observe their death anniversary in the past too,an akhand path was held in the Golden Temple yesterday,after which Jindas brother,Bhupinder Singh,and Sukhas relative,Surjit Kaur,were presented siropas. The SGPC even issued a press release yesterday stating that the duos relatives had been honoured with siropas by Dharam Singh Ardasiya. But SGPC secretary Dalmegh Singh denied this today,claiming that they had not honoured the kin of Jinda and Sukha. When told that the press release issued yesterday mentioned that he was among those present at the function,Dalmegh Singh said: Only if I or the SGPC president bestow some honour on someone,can it be considered as an honour by the SGPC. Asked about the SGPC observing the duos death anniversaries in the past,he replied: I have no idea about the past. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar could not be contacted. SGPC publicity in-charge Kulwinder Singh,who issued the press release yesterday,said: There is nothing new in this. Whenever there is akhand path for anyone,the relatives are given a siropa. Centre will not interfere in Bluestar Memorial: Shinde Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said on Wednesday that the Centre would not interfere in the construction of the Bluestar Memorial in Amritsar. There are certain things which certain organisations do. They enjoy certain rights and we do not want to impinge on them, said Shinde. Whatever rights they have,they can do it. But they should understand that the country has suffered for many years. That is why,I have said people should introspect, he added. The memorial is being built to honour those who were killed in Operation Bluestar. Asked about the Centres reported objection to the memorial,Shinde said: It is not a question of objection or no objection. It is a matter of rights given to the organisations by the Constitution. I have never said that it was their right to construct the memorial. But it should be left to them. It is their institution and we cannot interfere unless somebody takes objection in a court. Shinde added that Sikh militants have stepped up their activities in Punjab and are being supported by their sympathisers abroad. Not only in Punjab,but in some foreign countries also,there are activities by Sikh militants, he said. His remarks come in the backdrop of the attack on Lt Gen (retd) K S Brar,who led Operation Bluestar. On Brars security,Shinde said: It is the duty of the police and the government to do a review from time to time,month by month and give protection.
