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Time of India

Sikhs who left Indian Army over Operation Bluestar slam SGPC: ‘Never gave us our due'

Amritsar: Sikhs who deserted the Indian Army in 1984 over Operation Bluestar have accused the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) of not giving them appropriate recognition. Samuh Sikh Dharmi Fauji June 1984 Parivar Welfare Association has announced to launch a movement on June 6 to press the SGPC to acknowledge their contributions and grant them the honour they believe is due to them. In local parlance, Sikhs who deserted the army over Bluestar are called "dharmi fauji". Association president Baldev Singh said SGPC had failed to support them. He said while SGPC claims the number of dharmi faujis is 309, the actual number is 2,875. Baldev, who was serving as a havildar in the Indian Army and was posted in Mizoram at the time, left his barracks in June 1984. He said SGPC only provided compensation of Rs 50,000 to families of dharmi faujis who served jail terms, and Rs 1 lakh to the families of those who died. Baldev said during Operation Bluestar, launched to flush out militants holed up in gurdwaras, Sikh soldiers from various states across India, including Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, deserted their barracks and marched toward Amritsar to protect the Golden Temple, the Akal Takht, and other gurdwaras. "Approximately 4,500 Sikh soldiers left the army during this period and later came to be known as dharmi fauji (religiously motivated army deserters)," he said. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Quoting his meetings with successive presidents of SGPC, he said the association had been holding a series of internal meetings to deliberate on their future course of action, which will be announced on June 6. He declined to disclose any details about the planned programme or the strategy they intend to adopt. Amritsar: Sikhs who deserted the Indian Army in 1984 over Operation Bluestar have accused the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) of not giving them appropriate recognition. Samuh Sikh Dharmi Fauji June 1984 Parivar Welfare Association has announced to launch a movement on June 6 to press the SGPC to acknowledge their contributions and grant them the honour they believe is due to them. In local parlance, Sikhs who deserted the army over Bluestar are called "dharmi fauji". Association president Baldev Singh said SGPC had failed to support them. He said while SGPC claims the number of dharmi faujis is 309, the actual number is 2,875. Baldev, who was serving as a havildar in the Indian Army and was posted in Mizoram at the time, left his barracks in June 1984. He said SGPC only provided compensation of Rs 50,000 to families of dharmi faujis who served jail terms, and Rs 1 lakh to the families of those who died. Baldev said during Operation Bluestar, launched to flush out militants holed up in gurdwaras, Sikh soldiers from various states across India, including Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, deserted their barracks and marched toward Amritsar to protect the Golden Temple, the Akal Takht, and other gurdwaras. "Approximately 4,500 Sikh soldiers left the army during this period and later came to be known as dharmi fauji (religiously motivated army deserters)," he said. Quoting his meetings with successive presidents of SGPC, he said the association had been holding a series of internal meetings to deliberate on their future course of action, which will be announced on June 6. He declined to disclose any details about the planned programme or the strategy they intend to adopt.