Giani Gargaj pushes for unity as Taksal to oppose his Akal Takht address during Op Bluestar anniversary event
A day after the announcement by Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma regarding preventing acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj from delivering a message from the platform of Akal Takht during an event marking Operation Bluestar anniversary on June 6, Gargaj called for panthic unity on Sunday. The announcement has left the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) worried as in such a situation, it may be challenging for it to maintain peace during the commemoration. On Monday, an SGPC delegation, led by president Harjinder Singh Dhami, will meet the Damdami Taksal chief.
Reiterating that Gargaj's appointment was not made in accordance with the Sikh 'rehat maryada' (code of conduct), Dhumma had on Saturday said the community does not accept Gargaj as a legitimate jathedar, and any attempt by him to deliver a message would be strongly opposed by the Damdami Taksal and other Sikh organisations,' he said.
Meanwhile, Simranjit Singh Mann, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), said any attempt to silence Giani Gargaj is unjust and divisive. 'We will not allow such a misconduct. Sri Akal Takht Sahib is Sikhs' spiritual throne. Here, we must gather with humility and respect to remember our martyrs through prayer,' he said.
'From Abdali to Indira Gandhi, many have attacked Sri Akal Takht Sahib, but it has always stood firm. We urge Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma to uphold the sanctity of this Takht and show seriousness and respect in his statements,' he said.
An SGPC official, requesting anonymity, said, 'Maintaining peace during the event will be a big challenge.'
Harjinder Singh Dhami will lead an SGPC delegation to meet Dhumma on Monday. In a press release issued by the SGPC office, he stated that the purpose of the meeting with the head of Damdami Taksal is to strengthen the panthic unity and to prevent any kind of confrontation during the event.
Dhami admitted to being concerned about the current situation but expressed confidence in finding a meaningful resolution.
Meanwhile, Giani Gargaj also appealed to the entire Sikh community to commemorate these days with the spirit of panthic unity and pay respectful homage to the 'martyrs'.
He said, 'The Sikh community can never forget the military attack of June 1984. The first week of June each year is a deeply emotional and solemn time for the Panth, when martyrs are remembered. These martyrs sacrificed their lives for the nation, and they will always hold a place of utmost respect in the hearts of the Sikhs'.
Gargaj said, 'From time to time, certain forces have covertly attempted to prevent the Sikh community from remembering the martyrs of June 1984 and to sow division within the Khalsa Panth. However, the community has always remembered its martyrs with unwavering spirit (chardi kala) and will continue to do so. The panth needs unity, not division.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla writes to PM Modi, demands
Amritsar (Punjab) [India], June 3 (ANI): Congress Lok Sabha MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing concerns about the security of Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar and demanding that the area be declared a 'no-war zone.' 'I earnestly appeal to the Government of India to initiate steps for NO WAR ZONE and protected status to Sri Harmandir Sahib, under a framework that ensures: Permanent, non-political, high-level security for the shrine like Vatican City. International recognition and protection under humanitarian and interfaith harmony principles as per UNO. A clear mechanism to prevent any future military, political, or strategic targeting of this sacred place,' Aujla said in the letter. Highlighting the global and national significance of the Golden Temple, which is revered by millions worldwide regardless of their religion, Aujla said that it has become urgent to safeguard the sacred institution with 'permanent, non-political, high-level security.' 'In the wake of recent war like situations, it has become an urgent need of the hour to safeguard this sacred institution with the highest level of permanent and global security,' the letter read. His demand comes after Major General Kartik C Seshadri earlier claimed that Pakistan's prime target was the Golden Temple, according to information received from the intelligence, an attempt which was thwarted by the Indian army on May 8. 'A recent claim by a senior officer of the Indian Army, of the rank of Major General, stated that Pakistan Air Force had targeted the Golden Temple. This claim is not only alarming but has raised deep concern among the Sikh community worldwide. Given the sensitive geographical and political nature of the region, such threats-- whether real or perceived--pose a risk to national security and global religious harmony,' the letter further read. 'Any threat to it--real or claimed--has the potential to disturb world peace and affect inter-community trust and harmony. Such perceptions must not be allowed to take root,' Aujla added. (ANI)
Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Indian Express
Operation Blue Star: Reading between the lines of a deleted social media post by Punjab BJP
In a move that has stirred political debate, the Punjab unit of the BJP on June 1 posted, and deleted within four hours, a Facebook tribute referring to 'all' those killed during Operation Blue Star as 'martyrs' – a first for the party in the 40-plus years since the military operation inside the Golden Temple. The now-deleted post, written in Punjabi, read: 'A tribute to all the martyrs who lost their lives on the first day of the attack carried out by the Congress government on the Darbar Sahib.' The accompanying image featured archival visuals of Indian Army tanks inside the Golden Temple complex and damage to the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism, in the operation. The Punjab BJP has traditionally treaded a thin line over Operation Blue Star, balancing the sentiments of former ally Shiromani Akali Dal and the party's own 'nationalistic', Hindutva stand. The use of emotionally charged terminology like 'martyrs' in the context of Operation Blue Star hence stands out. Urging that not much be read into the deleted post, a senior BJP leader told The Indian Express that the party only meant to invoke the 'dark and painful chapter in Indian history'. Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar said the focus should be on the party's 'intentions' rather than the wording of the post. 'One should look at the intent of putting balm on the wounds of the 1984 riot victims, not just the content,' Jakhar said, pointing to the Delhi BJP government's actions regarding the victims of the anti-Sikh riots. The violence had followed Indira Gandhi's assassination over her role in ordering Operation Blue Star as the Prime Minister. 'Our actions speak louder than words. Just last week, the Delhi Chief Minister gave jobs to 125 family members of 1984 riot victims – something no one did in the past. It was a historic step,' Jakhar said. Asked why the post was removed by the BJP, Jakhar said: 'Sometimes social media handlers post content without proper approval of the leadership. There might have been something in the post that needed correction. However, the overall intent of the party should be the focus.' In fact, the BJP has been pretty consistent in its condemnation of the Congress government's role, even as it defended Operation Blue Star as a necessary military action to eliminate terrorism and restore order in Punjab. The party believes it were failures of the Congress government that led to the situation where militants holed up inside the Golden Temple, leaving little recourse but Army action. In Punjab, the BJP line has been more modulated, keeping in mind regional sensitivities and Sikh sentiments. Hence, it has occasionally expressed sympathy for those killed in the operation, without directly criticising the Army. The fact that the Akali Dal always strongly condemned the operation also influenced this positioning. However, within these limitations as well, the BJP has been sharpening its attack against the Congress on the military action. In 2009, Arun Jaitley, the late BJP leader and then the party's general secretary, called Operation Blue Star a 'historic blunder' at a press conference in Jalandhar ahead of the general elections. In August 2023, during a debate on the no-confidence motion moved against his government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the operation 'an attack on the Akal Takht'. It was the first time the party used that framing, largely used by Sikh voices, to describe the operation. Attacking Congress governments of the past, Modi drew parallels between the 1984 operation and the Indian Air Force's bombing in Mizoram in 1966. 'They (the Congress government) had become used to such actions since Mizoram, and that mindset led to the Akal Takht being attacked,' he said. The BJP's now-deleted post has also drawn attention since it coincided with the anniversary of the Operation Blue Star, which began on June 1 – the BJP has traditionally maintained its distance from events held to mark it. BJP rivals link both the sharing of the post and its prompt deletion to the coming Ludhiana West Assembly bypoll. The Aam Aadmi Party candidate contesting the seat is currently a Rajya Sabha MP, and if he wins the bypoll, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal could take the parliamentary seat that falls vacant. While the BJP has made inroads with the Hindu votes in Punjab, it is Sikh support that is crucial if the party wants to make it alone in the state, and the controversial post is being seen in this light. Jakhar lists the many steps taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi showing his 'deep respect for Punjab and Punjabis', including the opening of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, commemoration of Guru Nanak Dev's 500th anniversary and Guru Tegh Bahadur's martyrdom, and the declaration of Veer Bal Diwas to honour the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh's sons, apart from 'justice' for the 1984 riot victims. 'These steps reflect the PM's priority for Punjab and its people,' Jakhar said. Surjit Singh, the president of the 1984 Riot Victims' Welfare Society in Punjab, acknowledged the BJP government's efforts to support riot victims, but questioned the timing and subsequent deletion of the June 1 post by the BJP. 'They may have done it keeping in mind the Ludhiana West bypoll, wanting to appeal to voters across communities,' he said, adding that all parties 'use such strategies during elections'. Akali Dal spokesperson Daljeet Singh Cheema attacked the BJP, saying the party needed to explain its actions in putting up and then deleting the post.
India Gazette
9 hours ago
- India Gazette
"Reflects communal harmony among Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians": J-K Congress chief on Kheer Bhawani Mela
Ganderbal (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 3 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Congress President Tariq Hameed Karra on Tuesday welcomed the celebration of the Kheer Bhawani Mela, saying that it reflects the deep-rooted tradition of communal harmony among Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians. Speaking to ANI, Karra said, 'Like every year, today's fair at the Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple reflects our deep-rooted tradition of communal harmony among Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians. Another testament to this unity was seen during the Pahalgam incident, where a Muslim child and 26 others were killed. Despite attempts by certain forces to disrupt this religious harmony, today's gathering is a clear reminder that Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians continue to stand together.' The Kheer Bhawani Mela is an important annual religious festival for the Kashmiri Pandit community. It is held at the Kheer Bhawani Temple in Tulla Mulla village of Ganderbal district. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Ragnya Devi, a form of Goddess Durga, and is considered one of the holiest sites for Kashmiri Hindus. Earlier today, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah welcomed the celebration of both the Kheer Bhawani Mela and the Urs of Hazrat Mir Syed Ali Hamdani, calling it a symbol of communal harmony in Kashmir. He stressed the importance of unity for national progress. While speaking to ANI, Farooq Abdullah said, 'It is a matter of joy that the mela of Kheer Bhawani and Urs of Hazrat Mir Syed Ali Hamdani are being celebrated today. There has always been brotherhood in the valley. We want to see this brotherhood across the country. If we stay united, we will progress...' Abdullah also appealed to devotees to visit the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, expressing concern over the drop in pilgrim numbers following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. 'We should go to Mata Vaishno Devi in Katra and appeal to the people to visit there. There has been a decrease in the number of devotees to Mata Vaishno Devi. People are scared after the tragedy of war that took place recently. The impact of the Pahalgam incident was seen throughout the country...' Abdullah told ANI. Earlier, Abdullah had urged tourists to return to Jammu and Kashmir, stressing that the region seeks peace, not violence. He expressed concern over the negative impact of terror attacks on tourism and the livelihoods of people in places like Pahalgam, especially ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra. Speaking to ANI in Pahalgam, Abdullah said, 'The Prime Minister has sent delegations (to various countries). May they send the message that we want peace and we are not in favour of war... Killing innocent people should be stopped.' He added that the local economy, especially in Pahalgam, has suffered due to the 'barbaric' April 22 attack.' 'This year, we expected crores of people to come, and we have no place to accommodate them. But unfortunately, those who killed innocent people did not see what would happen (to taxi drivers, hotel owners, pony owners)... We sell the beauty given by God and earn a living... We are very sad about what happened... Please come back, we are waiting for you (tourists)... 'Bholanath' is also waiting for you as Amarnath Yatra is about to start...', he said. (ANI)
