Punjab is keeping its fingers crossed for the 32nd anniversary of Operation Blue Star on 6 June.
With less than a year to go for the state Assembly polls, the anniversary assumes special significance. The state’s socio-religious and socio-political spheres have seen many key developments over the last one year, and changes are expected to continue as poll dates draw closer.
For the 6 June anniversary, elaborate security measures have been taken by the state government, amidst a call for an Amritsar bandh by Dal Khalsa.
Security forces have conducted a flag march in sensitive areas of Amritsar.
Badal has said that it is the duty of the state government to intensify security arrangements as a routine affair for ensuring law and order situation, besides maintaining peace, communal harmony and brotherhood during the Ghallughara week, which is observed every year from 1 to 6 June.
The SGPC has recently given another dimension to Operation Blue Star by seeking an apology from the Central government for the operation and the 1984 Sikh genocide.
SGPC chief, Avtar Singh Makkar, said: “Such a move will be historical and strengthen mutual brotherhood. It should follow the Canadian government, which has made history by apologising for the Komagata Maru episode,” he said.
There have been incidents of violence around the anniversary between SGPC supporters and Sikh activists in the last two years.