Akal Takht to felicitate founder of radical outfit, may stoke row

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 29

Akal Takht’s decision to felicitate 11 Sikhs, including the founder of a radical outfit, the Dal Khalsa, Bhai Gajinder Singh, who had hijacked an Indian aircraft in 1981, is likely to court a controversy. He would be conferred with the ‘Panth Sewak’ award.

The decision was taken in a meeting of the five Sikh high priests on August 24. Four awards would be given posthumously.

Earlier, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh had courted a controversy by endorsing a separate Sikh state during the 36th anniversary of Operation Bluestar on June 7.

SAD spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema said the party was not aware of the decision taken by the Akal Takht. He said their outfit was dedicated to the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs (Akal Takht). It is pertinent to mention that Gajinder was allegedly involved in the hijacking of Indian Airlines (Boeing 737) to Lahore in 1981. The Pakistan Government had sentenced him to 14 years in jail. His name had figured in the list of most-wanted criminals, submitted by the Indian Government to Pakistan in 2002.