Latest news with #OperationBluestar
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Security tightened ahead of Op Bluestar anniversary, 4,000 cops to guard Amritsar city
Nearly 4,000 cops will stand guard in the wake of the 41st anniversary of Operation Bluestar on June 6 in Amritsar, officials said. 'Services of all the wings of the police are being taken. Besides, city police, cops from surrounding districts, including Amritsar rural, Batala and Tarn Taran, have been deployed in the city,' an official said, pleading anonymity. The police have already beefed up security in the city, and on Wednesday, a flag march was held with security agencies keeping a tight vigil to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident. Led by ADCP-1 Vishaljit Singh, the flag march started from Hall Gate, passing through the Hall Bazaar, Town Hall and Katra Jaimal Singh Bazaar. ACP central Jaspal Singh, station house officers (SHOs) of police station E division and D division along with local police and commandos, participated in the march. 'In addition to this, special 24-hour checkpoints have been established at the city's entry and exit points as well as in internal areas. Thorough checking of vehicles and suspicious individuals is being done at designated nakas (checkpoints),' commissioner of police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said. The walled city of Amritsar, especially surrounding the Golden Temple, is being guarded by the cops in large numbers and frisking of the passersby is being carried out at key points of the roads. Cops in plain clothes along with intelligence agency personnel are also keeping a watch around the holiest Sikh shrine. The Sikh hardliner groups including Dal Khalsa is undertaking a march on June 5 and has called for a complete shutdown in the city on June 6. Meanwhile, akhand paath (uninterrupted recitation of Guru Granth Sahib) started at Akal Takht to mark the anniversary falling, in the presence of key SGPC office-bearers. The SGPC, cops and agencies are on their toes as Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma has objected to Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj delivering a sandesh (address) from the platform of the highest Sikh temporal seat.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
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. BOX 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)". MSID:: 121624134 413 |
Time of India
11 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
SGPC tries to persuade Damdami Taksal to withdraw opposition to Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, fails
Amritsar : A two-member delegation of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) visited Gurdwara Gurdarshan Parkash, the headquarters of Damdami Taksal in Chowk Mehta, to hold a meeting with the Sikh seminary's officials on Wednesday. No breakthrough was achieved during the talks in which SGPC was hoping to persuade the taksal officials to withdraw their opposition to Akal Takht officiating jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj delivering a message from the Akal Takht rostrum to mark 41 years of Operation Bluestar on June 6. "We went to the headquarters of Damdami Taksal, but we could not meet Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa as he was away attending a religious function. Still, we are hopeful and confident of reaching a peaceful resolution by tomorrow," said Bhai Rajinder Singh Mehta, an SGPC member who was part of the delegation. This visit followed an earlier unsuccessful meeting held on June 2 between a delegation led by SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami and Baba Dhumma at Damdami Taksal headquarters. Following the meeting, Dhami said a peaceful solution would be reached ahead of June 6. Maintaining that the appointment of Giani Gargaj was made in violation of Sikh maryada (code of religious conduct), Damdami Taksal and Sikh organisations like Sant Samaj, Sikh federations, Nihang Singh groups and others, have asked SGPC to not let Giani Gargaj deliver the message to quom on June 6. The two sons of slain Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the 14th iconic chief of Damdami Taksal who died during Operation Bluestar, have publicly announced they will not receive a siropa (robe of honour) from Giani Gargaj. Sources said Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa remained firm on his stance, while efforts were underway to find a middle ground to prevent any confrontation or untoward incident on June 6.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Jathedar meets Rajoana, calls for unity ahead of Op Bluestar aniv
Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj on Tuesday met Sikh prisoner Balwant Singh Rajoana, a death row convict in CM Beant Singh assassination case, in the Patiala central jail. Following the meeting, Jathedar Gargaj slammed the government's 'discriminatory' stance regarding Rajoana's release and commutation of death sentence. 'This must be confronted with united resistance from the panth (community). Sikh prisoners, who have completed their terms have not been released and it is a clear indication of the government's apathetic attitude towards Sikhs,' the jathedar said. Rajoana, a former Punjab Police constable, was sentenced to death in 2007 for his role as a backup bomber in the suicide attack in Chandigarh on August 31, 1995, that killed former CM Beant Singh and 16 others. In 2012, Rajoana was scheduled for execution, but it was stayed after the SGPC filed a mercy plea on his behalf for commutation of the death sentence. Over the years, successive governments have cited national security concerns and the delicate political environment in Punjab as reasons for the delay in deciding the plea. Replying to a query, the jathedar said that the June 6 Operation Bluestar anniversary should be observed with respect. 'The June 6 anniversary event should be observed with respect. All Sikhs must remain committed to upholding the dignity and sanctity of Akal Takht,' Gargaj said, without naming Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma, who had announced that they don't accept the present jathedar and will not let him deliver an address during the event. Gargaj also said that Rajoana is also in favour of maintaining the maryada (code of conduct), and the respect of Akal Takht at all costs. SAD senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Tuesday backed Giani Gargaj and said the June 6 event should be observed without any disruption.
Indian Express
a day ago
- General
- Indian Express
Operation Blue Star
OPERATION BLUE STAR NEWS Operation Blue Star: Reading between the lines of a deleted social media post by Punjab BJP June 04, 2025 5:44 am Tribute by party to 'all martyrs' of the operation at Golden Temple, before it took down the past, could indicate a break from the party's measured stance in the past. Rivals believe the reason more mundane: a bypoll Military Digest: Sikh soldiers' desertions, disbandment of 9th Battalion after Operation Blue Star June 16, 2024 2:22 pm A court of inquiry found that on June 4, 1984, a signature campaign was initiated in the battalion to enlist volunteers willing to go to Amritsar in case the need arose. Military Digest: 40 years of Op Blue Star -- Recalling Lt Gen Sinha's firm views on Army storming Mehta Chowk Gurdwara June 09, 2024 4:26 pm There has been much speculation that the resistance of Lt Gen Sinha to use his troops at Mehta Chowk Gurdwara may have cost him his appointment as Chief of Army Staff. 39 years since Operation Bluestar: What led up to it, what happened June 06, 2023 1:34 pm Today marks 39 years of Operation Bluestar, in which the Indian army stormed the Golden Temple in Amritsar to flush out militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his followers. Amritsar: Dal Khalsa takes out march on eve of Operation Blue Star anniversary, calls for bandh today June 06, 2023 7:29 am Operation Blue Star was carried out by the Indian Army in June 1984 in order to capture pro-Khalistan ideologue Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and flush out other militants holed up in the Golden Temple. SGPC chief Dhami meets Amit Shah; no talks on Rs 1000-cr suit over Op Blue Star June 04, 2023 8:53 am In 1985, the SGPC filed a lawsuit against the Union government for having carried out Operation Blue Star a year before, for which 39th anniversary will be observed at Akal Takht on June 6. Punjab Police conducts flag marches ahead of Op Blue Star anniversary June 02, 2023 9:15 am 'Punjab Police will ensure peaceful observance of the Operation Bluestar Anniversary, for which foolproof arrangements are in place and adequate security has also been deployed across the state,' said Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla. The Express View: Slipping in Punjab February 25, 2023 6:48 am The state has no appetite for a return to the violent 1980s. State and central governments must not yield space to radical elements Lt Gen K S Brar's remarks on Operation Blue Star spark row in Punjab February 02, 2023 1:51 pm The late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi 'allowed' Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale to 'become Frankenstein', Lt Gen (Retd) Kuldeep Singh Brar said in a recent interview on Operation Blue Star. As Rahul Gandhi visits Golden Temple, Oppn parties invoke history to attack Bharat Jodo Yatra January 11, 2023 10:01 am While the Shiromani Akali Dal said that the Gandhi family is the 'same family which attacked Harmandir Sahib', the BJP said the Bharat Jodo Yatra will 'freshen wounds caused by Congress'. Load More OPERATION BLUE STAR PHOTOS Operation Blue Star's 37th anniversary: Security stepped up at Golden Temple June 06, 2021 11:25 am Operation Bluestar was a military action ordered by then PM Indira Gandhi to flush out Sikh militants holed up in Harmandir Sahib Complex (Golden Temple) in Amritsar. It is said that nearly 3,000 Sikhs were killed during the operation. Operation Bluestar: Rare pictures from Express archives June 06, 2016 8:18 pm The Operation Blue Star was planned by the Indira Gandhi government in collaboration with the Indian Army. Lasting ten days, it was carried out using tanks, helicopters and artillery.
