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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Operation Bluestar anniversary: Radical outfits raise pro-Khalistan slogans
Amritsar, Pro-Khalistan slogans were on Friday raised by supporters and activists of radical Sikh outfits at the Akal Takht, the supreme temporal seat of Sikhs, while a peaceful bandh was observed around the Golden Temple and interior walled city on the 41st anniversary of Operation Bluestar. Dal Khalsa activists were seen holding placards bearing portraits of slain militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and also Khalistani flags. The entire periphery of the Golden Temple near THE Akal Takh echoed with pro-Khalistan slogans. Pro-Khalistan slogans were raised by activists of outfits, including the Dal Khalsa, former MP Simranjit Singh Mann-led Shiromani Akali Dal , his associate and former MP Dhian Singh Mand, at the Akal Takht. Operation Bluestar was a military operation carried out in 1984 to flush out militants from the Golden Temple. Officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, while reading 'ardas' , said all Sikh outfits should unitedly apply untiring efforts for the release of 'Bandhi Singhs' . Bandi Singhs are those Sikh prisoners, who parties like Shiromani Akali Dal and other Sikh bodies claim, were in jails even after completion of their sentences. Harjinder Singh Dhami, who is president of the apex religious body of the Sikhs the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee , honoured the family members of Sikh leaders, who were killed along with Bhindranwale in the Golden Temple complex during the Army action in June 1984. As per tradition, it was the Jathedar Akal Takht who every year honours the families of those who were killed in the army action, but this year it was done by the SGPC president. Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma had earlier opposed the recent appointment of Gargaj as officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht in violation of 'maryada' and 'panthic traditions'.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Punjab BJP deletes post paying tributes to ‘martyrs' of Operation Bluestar
The Punjab BJP has deleted a social media post in which it paid tributes to "martyrs" of Operation Blue Star, the Army operation which was carried out in June 1984 to flush out armed militants from the Golden Temple. The post on X was shared on Sunday but it was taken down later without assigning any reason for the same. In the post, the Punjab BJP had condemned the then Congress government for "attacking the Golden Temple" and expressed solidarity with the families of those who lost their lives. The post, which has now been deleted, read, "June 1, 1984'' 'Saka Neela Tara'. A humble tribute to all the martyrs of the day one of the attack on the Darbar Sahib by the Congress government." The BJP had also shared pictures of the damage suffered by the Akal Takht, which is the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, and an armoured vehicle with deflated tyres. The post, which was shared on Facebook as well, was deleted a few hours later. Meanwhile, officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj has appealed to the Sikh community to commemorate the first week of June, which he described it as 'Shaheedi Hafta' (martyrdom week), with the "spirit of Panthic unity and pay respectful homage to the martyrs." In a statement, Gargaj stated, "In June 1984, when Sikh devotees had gathered to observe the martyrdom day of the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev, the then Congress-led government launched a military assault using tanks, artillery, and bullets on the central Sikh religious place, Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib, and Sri Akal Takht Sahib." 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," he said. The jathedar urged that from June 1 to 6, special 'Gurmat Samagams' (religious congregations), lectures, and seminars should be organised globally by Sikhs. He also instructed all gurdwara management committees to hold special Sri Akhand Path Sahib recitations and invite historians and preachers to gurdwaras to educate 'sangat' (congregation) about the events of June 1984 and November 1984 (anti-Sikh riots).
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
SAD faction rumoured to back Balwant Singh Rajoana as Jathedar, while Sarbat Khalsa backs Jagtar Singh Hawara
AMRITSAR: There have been widespread rumours suggesting that a faction within the (SAD) is actively promoting the idea of appointing Balwant Singh Rajoana, who was convicted for his alleged involvement in the assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh and is currently incarcerated at Central Jail, Patiala, as the Jathedar of Akal Takht even as the organisers of the Sarbat Khalsa, who appointed Jagtar Singh Hawara—the alleged mastermind behind Beant Singh's assassination and currently held in Tihar Jail—are reportedly advocating for the acceptance of Hawara as the Jathedar of Akal Takht by the SAD. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Bhai Balwant Singh Gopala, former President of the Sikh Youth Federation, Bhinderanwala, said that Balwant Singh Rajoana has consistently been expressing support for the SAD and praised the leadership of the Badal family. Given Rajoana's longstanding alignment with SAD, Gopala said that it would not come as a surprise if he were appointed to the prestigious position of Jathedar of Akal Takht, especially considering that the SAD holds a majority in the General House of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which announces such decisions. In 2022, the SAD president had announced Kamaldeep Kaur Rajoana, sister of Balwant Singh Rajoana as joint candidate of SAD-BSP and all Panthic organizations for Sangruru Lok Sabha by elections. However, Gopala also emphasised that while Rajoana's appointment as Jathedar of Akal Takht is not a certainty, the possibility remains, particularly in light of opposition to the current officiating Jathedar, Bhai Kuldeep Singh Gargaj. He speculated that, in the future, a permanent Jathedar of Akal Takht might be appoint in a manner similar to how Gargaj serves as the Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib. "The narrative being made about Rajoana could be a tactic to gauge the panthic mood," he said. The credence to the closeness of Rajoana with the Badals and his influence in a section of SAD is evident from the decision taken by SGPC on Friday after it decided to temporarily defer the matter of displaying a portrait of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in the Central Sikh Museum—after Rajoana wrote a two-page letter raising objections to SGPC's decision of displaying Manmohan Singh's portrain to the SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami from Central Jail, Patiala on May 14. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now SGPC Secretary Partap Singh informed that the SGPC's Executive Committee approved the installation of Dr Manmohan Singh's portrait in the Central Sikh Museum in the recent past, but following the objections raised by various groups, SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami has ordered the matter to be put on hold for the time being. However, he didn't inform about the persons or the organisations who objected to the SGPC's decision on the portrait. "SGPC respects the sentiments of the Sikh community and believes that a general consensus among Sikhs is essential on this matter," he said, adding that the decision regarding the portrait will be reconsidered in a future meeting of the Executive Committee. Meanwhile, Jarnail Singh Sakhira, the chief organiser of the 2015 Sarbat Khalsa that appointed Jagtar Singh Hawara as Jathedar of Akal Takht, has urged those opposing Hawara's appointment to recognise the legitimacy of a Jathedar chosen by the Sangat rather than by political parties or religious groups. "The time has come for all to acknowledge the authority of a Jathedar appointed by the people, not by external influences," Sakhira said. He further criticised the current officiating Jathedar, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, claiming that he lacks widespread acceptance among the Sikh community. Sakhira also pointed out that the family of Bhai Amrik Singh, the late President of the All India Sikh Students Federation who died during Operation Bluestar, informed the Sarbat Khalsa organisers that they will not accept siropas (robes of honour) from Giani Gargaj during an upcoming ceremony scheduled for June 6 to mark the Operation Bluestar anniversary.
