The prayer ceremony to mark Operation Bluestar at the Golden Temple Complex here on Tuesday passed off peacefully.
There were a few tense moments when a group raised anti-government slogans during the customary address by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh. No violence was reported.
The situation became tense when the parallel acting Akal Takht jathedar Dhyan Singh Mand tried to address the public from the ground floor of the Takht. Sources said they were denied the mic at the podium of the Takht. Their supporters broke the speakers which disrupted their address.
Barring slogans against Giani Gubachan Singh no untoward incident was reported. The SGPC task force and police in plain clothes kept a tight vigil.
SAD (A) chief Simranjit Singh Mann and his supporters went to Yaadgar Shahidan to pay tributes. Amid pro-Khalistan slogans they paid tributes to the June 1984 ‘martyrs
SGPC FEARS TROUBLE, PUTS ONUS ON GOVT
On the eve of Operation Bluestar anniversary, the SGPC today put the onus on the Congress government to maintain peace in the holy city, particularly the Golden Temple complex.
The Sikh body expressed apprehension over the attempts of several Sikh hardliners to create trouble on the occasion.
The last three years saw heightened tension on the occasion. Bloody clashes were witnessed between Sikh outfits and the SGPC task force in 2014.
The customary address by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh has become a bone of contention between the SGPC and various Sikh groups.
Though SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar has, for the first time, invited “parallel” jathedars and rebel Sikh organisations to participate in the event, his effort seemed to have yielded little.
“I am helpless and at the same time pained that despite my earnest efforts to bring all Sikh organisations on one platform, they continued to adopt a confrontational attitude. Though the administration has made elaborate arrangements, if any untoward incident took place on Tuesday, it will solely be the responsibility of the Congress government,” he said.
Giani Gurbachan Singh said: “I appeal to the whole Sikh community to refrain from raising any provocative slogans or creating ruckus at the Golden Temple complex, and maintain peace.”
Opposing the Amritsar bandh call given by Dal Khalsa, he said: “Such a move will bring a bad name to the community.” On the other hand, Sikh organisations have declared to oppose the Jathedar’s address on the occasion. They demanded that instead of Giani Gurbachan Singh, either the SGPC president or the head priest of the Golden Temple should deliver the address. Badungar said the precedence could not be altered.
Akal Takht’s parallel “acting jathedar” Dhyan Singh Mand said: “I will deliver the address to the Sikh community as per the precedent. Giani Gurbachan Singh should voluntarily step down to ease the tension. He has lost faith of the community due to his involvement in certain controversial decisions.”
The operation resulted in the death of Bhindranwale and a high casualty figure among the army, civilians and militants. The assault on Golden Temple was heavily criticised by Sikhs worldwide and had led to several Sikhs resigning from administrative positions.
WHAT IS OPERATION BLUE STAR?
First week of June, 1984 was a significant moment in India’s political history. Under the orders of the then prime minister, Indira Gandhi, the Indian military stormed into the premises of the Golden Temple in Amritsar to drive out the Sikh extremist religious leader, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his armed followers.
Bhindranwale in the past two years, had made his political claims very clear. He wanted the Indian government to pass the Anandpur Resolution, and thereby agree to the formation of a separate state of Khalistan for Sikhs.
Since 1982, the radical leader of Sikhism had managed to gain enough support for his cause and by mid-1983 had set up a base inside the Golden Temple complex, with ammunition and his followers. The Operation Blue Star was launched between June 1 and June 6, 1984 with the aim of getting rid of Bhindranwale and his demands.
Once Bhindranwale had fortified the Golden Temple and its surrounding areas, Indira Gandhi decided to consult the Indian army regarding the plan to drive him out.
Given the religious sentiments attached to the Gurudwara and the casualty that could be expected, the then Army Vice-Chief, Lt. Gen. S.K.Sinha had advised against an assault. Soon after however, he was replaced by General Arun Shridhar Vaidya as Chief of the Indian Army, who went on to plan and lead Operation Blue Star.
The Indian Army launched the offensive on the night of June 2, and on June 3 a curfew was imposed on the state of Punjab, and all lines of communication and travel were stopped.
The operation resulted in the death of Bhindranwale and a high casualty figure among the army, the civilians and the militants. The assault on Golden Temple was heavily criticised by Sikhs worldwide and had led to several Sikhs resigning from administrative positions.
Few months post-Operation Blue Star, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards, followed by severe anti-Sikh riots in Delhi.
