Security heightened at Golden Temple ahead of Operation Bluestar anniversary
Amritsar: Both the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the police have made adequate security arrangements in and around the Golden Temple to prevent any untoward incidents in view of the 41st anniversary of Operation Bluestar—an Army operation carried out to flush out militants from the Golden Temple complex.
Sources said that as in previous years, intelligence inputs are being gathered to prevent any clandestine activities. A good number of police personnel in plainclothes will be deployed inside the Golden Temple complex.
Police officials have also been holding meetings with Sikh groups and organisations that issued statements opposing Akal Takht officiating jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj delivering a message to the community from the platform of Akal Takht during an event marking the anniversary on June 6.
Bhagwant Singh Dhangera, manager, Golden Temple, said that all necessary and essential security arrangements have been put in place throughout the complex. He also appealed to the sangat (community) to cooperate with the SGPC in maintaining a peaceful and respectful environment.
Amritsar police commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, said that for the past two days, security and law and order arrangements have been actively enforced.
In the meantime, the SGPC began an akhand path (uninterrupted recitation of Guru Granth Sahib) at Akal Takht to mark the 41st anniversary of Operation Bluestar. The bhog of akhand path will be performed on June 6. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami and others were present at the beginning of the akhand path on Wednesday. Dhami said that the brutal actions carried out by the then govt in June 1984 inflicted deep wounds upon the Sikh community — wounds that can never be forgotten.
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Nihangs to oppose Gargaj address
The heads of various Nihang Singh organisations held a meeting and opined that Akal Takht officiating jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj was not acceptable to the Panth, so it will not be appropriate for him to deliver the message to the community on June 6 on "Ghallughara Diwas" (Operation Bulestar anniversary). They said that for the restoration of proper "maryada" (Sikh code of religious conduct), all sects, Damdami Taksal, saintly figures, and Panthic organisations are united on their decision.
Jathedar Baba Balbir Singh, chief of Shiromani Panth Akali Budha Dal, said that Gargaj was not appointed as jathedar according to Panthic maryada, so he has no authority to directly intervene in Panthic matters. Stating that every effort should be made to avoid any confrontation on June 6, Baba Balbir said SGPC should introspect on its decisions and must not repeatedly make decisions that go against Sikh sentiments.
Nothing will happen: Gargaj
Amritsar: "Nothing will happen." This was how Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, the officiating jathedar of Akal Takht, responded when asked about the strong objections raised by Sikh organisations, including Damdami Taksal, to his expected address to the community on June 6. "I am 200% sure that this year's Ghallughara programme will be even more peaceful than previous years," he said, adding, "Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa, the chief of Damdami Taksal, Chowk Mehta, and leaders of other Sikh organisations are all Gurubhai (brothers in faith).
The Taksal's former head, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, attained martyrdom here. It is unthinkable that they would create any disturbance." He emphasised that while differences may exist, "such divisions disappear when Sikhs come together in the Gurughar (house of the Guru)".
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