Punjab parties concerned over pro-hardline sections getting increasing space
The apex clergy of the Sikh community and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) appeared to have stirred up another controversy as they once again honoured the assassins of the former Chief of Army staff, General A.S. Vaidya, at the Akal Takht on Wednesday.
While Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh did not participate in the ‘bhog ceremony’, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar has been indisposed for some time.
The kin of Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha, who were hanged in Pune on October 9, 1992, six years after the assassination of Gen. Vaidya, were honoured by the manager of Darbar Sahib. SGPC secretary Dalmegh Singh was present.
Others who participated in the event that marked the 20th anniversary of the hanging of the duo included the spokesmen of the Dal Khalsa and the Damdami Taksal, Kanwarpal Singh and Bhai Mokham Singh.
Both Jinda and Sukha, who had killed Gen. Vaidya on August 10, 1986, were declared ‘martyrs’ of the Sikh community for avenging “Operation Blue Star.” Their portraits figure in the paintings museum in the Golden Temple complex. The anniversary of their hanging has been observed at the Akal Takht since 1992.
On Wednesday, “siropas” (robes of religious honour) were presented to Jinda’s brother, Bhupinder Singh, and Sukha’s mother, Surjit Kaur. The event, which comes on the heels of the attempt on the life of the only surviving commander of “Operation Blue Star,” Lt.-Gen. K.S. Brar, has created ripples in Punjab, where the opposition Congress and the ruling alliance partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party, have expressed concern over the increasing space being given to pro-hardline sections in Sikh politics.
The event is being connected to the SPGC decision to allow construction of a memorial for those who died defending the faith in “Operation Blue Star” as well as recent incidents of honouring militants inside the Golden Temple complex.
Keywords: Operation Blue Star, General Vaidya, Akal Takht, Gen. Vaidya assassins, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee
The SGPC needs to understand that the word 'revenge' does not exist in the realm of religion or spirituality. They have done a disservice to the noble ideals of Sikhism through this act.
No wonder this happened. We all knew SGPC receives almost every bit of its donations from overseas. It uses the money in elections and also to fill personal accounts of its members. In turn they keep Khalistan movement alive. Today, I have tears in my eyes and heart bleeding. May be this is the only country in the world where you can openly make a mockery of the supreme sacrifice of your soldiers.
Silence of the moderate sikhs will bite their back soon
It looks like defending should be done by people themselves. Army should be disbanded--everywhere people are unhappy with what they do. All over Kashmir, North East, Naxal areas and where not, Army is being pushed to 'take control' of the situation. Maybe, youngsters should defend their own communities!
Events like this should be condemned by society. It is nothing but a
cheap tactic of power hungry people to fulfill their political
ambitions. Religious shrines are for bringing people together and should
not be allowed to become a playgrounds of power. Any such action should
be dealt with an iron hand by the government.
This is a case of sedition,directly insulting Indian constitution.One who commit a crime how he can be a Martyr for a community. Political parties should stop playing politics of vote and take strong measures against them. Legislation should be passed in Punjab legislative assembly to curb this non-sense. Home ministry has to come forward,please don't wait for the another insurgent era in a peaceful and secular state of Punjab.
In the backdrop of current debates of "legal wrongs" vs "moral wrongs" (DLF issue raised by Kejriwal and IAC) I wonder where this instance stands. Is it legally wrong, morally wrong, neither, or both ? Experts should weigh in !
Those people should be taught a lesson, their passport be cancelled so
they cannot travel outside, any loan they apply to any national bank be
rejected. Any application for anything should be rejected. They should
be boycotted "officially" for what they have done and are doing.
A soldier did what he was asked to do, and anyone who stands in his way
is a traitor, and should be treated like one.
I grew up in Punjab but later migrated out of it with the rest of my family after insurgency turned ugly. Still I try to visit my ancestral village in Punjab every few months. Though the insurgency has ended but the wounds left by it are yet to heal Though majority of Punjabis (Hindus & Sikhs alike) don't lend active support to the militants, thanks in part to the nationalist legacy of Bhagat Singh and the like ,but even 5-10% highly polarised individuals are good enough to mess the whole place as they did earlier . Central Govt should take appropriate steps before things get out of hands and we are left again with a blood soaked Punjab .
They have forgotten KPS Gill. Similar rule needs to be brought in for these extremists. They can honor whomsoever they want now, but all those honored terrorists were Pakistani supported enemies of India and and were crushed when needed. and we will do it again by the grace of almighty!!!. they were out to create a separate state out of India and met their fate well deserved.
This act reeks of radicalisation and selfish motives at the top. The
general public have suffered enough and don't want to return to that
horrible era which all parties are to be blamed for. I, as a Sikh, do
not condone the heinous acts of the assassins or the present act of
honouring them. What they did was totally selfish and against the
principles of Sikhi. It is tragic that the top SGPC leadership is so
bereft of righteous people, people who believe that it is right to
kill a person who has not been given the chance to defend himself.
These are not the values of Gurus, and especially not of Guru Gobind
Singh. I classify these assassins as cowards who have shamed our
religion and so have all the sikh militants. This moreso when the
country is being led by none other than a Sikh! I hope sense prevails
and these acts are condemned in the future.
Those who kill have been honoured whether it was Independence or liberation.extremists do such honouring to uplift spirits of trained assasins or human bombs.it is like rape victims marrying the rapers as shown in cinema.kill and get honor bestowed citing liberation struggle. prabakaran killed many of his own cadre leave alone public figures like mayor of jaffna and planned assassination of RG,sri lankan ministers but he is hero worshipped. so not surprised that siromani gurudwara team acts sympathising hanged assasins.
Shameful act by apex religious body of Sikhs which should condemned by everyone. I do not support the entry of armed forces to the religious sites. It was a political failure but acts like this does heal wounds. It is time to move forward.
Assassination of Gen. Vaidya was assassination of the nation's unity,
honouring his assassins is honouring and encouraging terrorism, such
acts should be nipped in the bud lest we regret it later. Terrorism in
any form, at any place by any community should not be
tolerated.Religious freedom is not above the nation. Raises many
questions about the authorities. The future of India is at stake, The
idea of India is threatened.
Wisdom of centuries can vanish in a second but, stupidity of a moment lasts forever.
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