Amritsar, June 6
Confusion prevailed in front of Akal Takht for more than an hour when activists of radical Sikh organisations raised slogans like ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ , ‘Amar Shaheed Bhindranwale amar rahe’, ‘Badal murdabad’ and ‘Bibi Jagir Kaur murdabad’ by brandishing unsheathed swords.

Scuffles between the SGPC’s Task Force and hardliners were witnessed in the complex following hanging of ‘Shaheed Gallery Board’ in front of the main building of Akal Takht. The atmosphere was charged following the raising of the demand of ‘Khalistan’ by Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann. He announced that the ‘Ardas’ performed by Jathedar Vedanti was incomplete as the community would continue to struggle for the creation of a separate buffer state between India and Pakistan.

While radical Sikhs insisted on declaring part of Akal Takht building as ‘Shaheed Gallery’ in the memory of those killed in the Army Operation in June 1984, the SGPC officials removed the board thrice leading to chaos. The radical Sikhs also gave ‘guard of honour’ to the Shaheed Gallery with unsheathed swords. However, Bibi Jagir Kaur, president, SGPC declared that ‘come what may, the memorial would be raised in memory of those killed in Operation Bluestar despite opposition by the radical Sikhs. Countering the statement of Mr Mann who had announced to raise the memorial of the ‘traitors of Sikh Panth’, the SGPC chief said that he (Mr Mann) should first raise such memorial in the memory of his grandfather Roor Singh who had denigrated the Sikh maryada by honouring General Dyer, who massacred many innocent persons in Jallianwala Bagh on April 13, 1919.

This was for the first time in the past 21 years that a large number of followers of the Damdami Taksal participated in the ‘Genocide Day’.

Earlier, Jathedar Vedanti honoured Bibi Pritam Kaur and Bhai Isher Singh, widow and son of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, respectively, and family members of slain militants in the presence of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, President, Shiromani Akali Dal and Sikh high priests.

When Mr Badal and Akali activists were coming down the ramp of Akal Takht after the ‘Ardas’, representatives of various Sikh organisations, including the Khalsa Panchayat, the Shiromani Khalsa Dal (Daljit Singh Bittu), the Khalra Mission Committee, the Human Rights Organisation and the SAD (Amritsar) resorted to sloganeering. On this, Mr Badal was whisked off to a safer place while the hard-liners continued to raise slogans against him (Mr Badal) and SGPC chief.

Speaking on the occasion, Baba Dhumma sought apology from the Sikh Sangat for concealing death of Sant Bhindranwale for 21 years.

Later, Bibi Jagir Kaur and Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta condemned the chaos in front of Akal Takht. The SGPC chief alleged that the maryada was violated as some ‘pro-Congress’ organisations wanted to take political mileage.