Amritsar: Dal Khalsa has given a call for Amritsar bandh on June 6 to mark the 30th anniversary of Operation Bluestar – June 1984 Sikh Genocide.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said the bandh call was meant to protest against the killings of hundreds of innocent pilgrims, the alleged loot of invaluable holy books, manuscripts and arte-facts from the Sikh Reference Library and to recall and relive the pain and agony of the heinous attack besides paying tributes to all those killed by the security forces inside the shrine. He clarified that the call was only for shut down of business and educational institutions and there would be no stoppage of transportation.
He also appealed to the non-Sikh population of Amritsar to share the pain of the community and express solidarity by closing their business premises.
Kanwar Pal Singh said that to commemorate the day, a remembrance parade would be held in the city on June 5. He alleged that even as the SAD had always asserted that the Congress party had carried out the heinous attack on Sikhs.
“The SAD now has some voice with the Centre. It is time for the Badals to test the waters by seeking the return of arte-facts, manuscripts, rare holy books and cultural heritage from the Central government,” he added, claiming that the Damdami Taksal had supported its bandh call.