Calling for peace, SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar appealed to all Sikh organisations to unite and invited them to the June 6 Op Bluestar Anniversary event.
To mark the anniversary of Operation Bluestar, an “akhand path” was started at the Akal Takht here today. The “bhog” will be performed on June 6.
He held a meeting with SAD(A) president Simranjit Singh Mann at Fatehgarh Sahib yesterday. The latter told Badungar that his supporters would offer prayers during the religious programme.
Badungar also met Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh and discussed ways to make the event peaceful in accordance with maryada. Kanwar Pal assured him that members of all groups associated with his party will fully cooperate with the SGPC.
SGPC member Manjit Singh said people laid down their lives during Operation Bluestar for the sanctity of the Golden Temple and the Akal Takht.
Adjacent to the Akal Takht is the rickety structure of the entrance gate to the Golden Temple complex. The bullet-riddled structure speaks volumes about the indiscriminate firing during the Army action. The SGPC is fighting a legal battle in the Delhi High Court to claim a compensation of Rs 1,000 crore from the Centre for the damage caused to holy structures.
Besides the entrance gate, bullet marks on the walls of the Teja Singh Samundri Hall and Darshani Deori (entrance point to the Golden Temple sanctum sanctorum) have been left untouched. It has not been painted.
Even after 33 years of Operation Bluestar, these structures have been kept as it is to serve as evidence to be furnished in the compensation petition. The SGPC had deposited the court fee, amounting to Rs 10 crore, in June 2013.