AMRITSAR – Amid objections raised by Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, the Damdami Taksal (Mehta) and Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) yesterday launched ‘Kar Sewa’ for June 1984 Shaheed Gallery to be build in the memory of Ghallughara Sikh martyrs.
In the ceremony that was jointly attended by Taksal head Harnam Singh Dhumma, SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar and Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, also present was Isher Singh, son of radical Sikh preacher Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the militant separatist leader who was killed in the army operation in the Golden Temple in 1984.
The gallery will have portraits of Sant Baba Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and about 200 other shaheeds of June 1984 era.
A series of Akhand Path of Guru Granth Sahib was started at Gurdwara Yadgaar Shaheedan and first Akhand Path was started in the memory of Shaheed Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. It is learnt that Akhand Path Sahib will be held in the memory of each Sikh who attained martyrdom during June 1984 Ghallughara at Darbar Shaib.
Dhumma, who stressed that the gallery was to remember those who died in Operation Bluestar, also hit out at the chief minister.
“Damdami Taksal is doing nothing that can spoil the peace of the state, but it is the CM who is trying to cause trouble by making baseless statements,” he said, adding, “We can’t expect anything better from a representative of a political party (Congress) that designed the attack on Golden Temple.”
He said that in 2012 when the Bluestar memorial was being built, some Congressmen had said that this will disturb peace “but nothing of that sort has happened”. “And, with this gallery, too, no peace will be disturbed.”
“We intend to complete it in the near future and it will be equipped with both traditional and modern gadgets.”
Badungar in his speech lauded the effort of setting up the gallery and said that Operation Bluestar can never be forgotten by the community. He, too, flayed CM Amarinder, saying, “He should not worry about peace or stability but must be worried about the fact that Congress was behind the attack that led to killing of many.”