In a major intelligence failure that has put the ruling SAD on a path of direct confrontation with the Damdami Taksal led Sant Samaj,it seems neither SAD nor SGPC had any idea that the Bluestar Memorial constructed within the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar will be dedicated to the memory of Sikh militant leader Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. According to sources in the government,the unveiling of the marble plaque that had Bhindranwales name engraved on it came came as a bolt from the blue for both SAD and SGPC and Damdami Taksal managed to hoodwink them into installing it. A senior SAD leader,on condition of anonymity said: There was a clear understanding with the Damdami Taksal,which was constructing the memorial,that no names or photographs of anyone will be displayed. It is a breach of trust from their side. He added that it came as a shock to SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar when he was told about the name on the plaque after the inauguration on April 27. I have been told that the plaque was installed a night before the inauguration. It was wrapped in a white paper sheet that looked like marble. Even during the inauguration,the sheet was not removed. However,once the memorial was inaugurated,the white papers were removed. The same was done for the history board, said the SAD leader. Though the Damdami Taksal did not keep its part of the bargain and presented the naming of the memorial as fait accompli,the government,however,did not pull up its intelligence wing for not keeping the SGPC and SAD abreast of what was planned. Other than the plaque and the history board with names of Sikh militant leaders who died in Operation Bluestar,a wall clock with Bhindrawale picture and a golak with his name on it was also installed in the memorial during the construction process. When contacted,ADGP intelligence Punjab Hardeep Dhillon said he did not want to comment on the issue. Outsmarted and with the whole episode now in public domain,SAD is faced with a piquant situation losing face among Sikhs if it insists of the plaques or the boards removal or running the risk of a direct clash with the Sant Samaj. The removal of the wall clock and the golak has already led to avoidable tension between the SGPC and the Sant Samaj,forcing the SGPC to issue a statement that it will now allow any group to interfere with its working or reduce the maryada of the complex. Hardening its stance on the other hand,the Damdami Taksal chief Sant Harnam Singh Dhumma had submitted a memorandum to Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh on Monday,saying it will not tolerate removal of Bhindrawales name and will keep all options open till the Sant Samajs demands are met. Harnam Singh added that a resolution passed by the SGPC last year had clearly said that the memorial would be dedicated to Bhindranwale and others who were killed during Operation Bluestar and it was the SGPC which was back tracking on the issue led by its political master the SAD. The Sant Samaj had further claimed that SGPC knew exactly what was going on during the construction process and did not raise any objection at any stage. The Akal Takht jathedar has now summoned a meeting of the five high priests on May 15 to resolve the issue.
