Various religious leaders, politicians and organisations have expressed remarks on the Operation Bluestar Memorial. These varying remarks, some mislead, others inspiring, are presented below for our readers.
Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal)
As per a statement of Chief Minister Parkash Badal, the Operation Bluestar “is the most unfortunate incident not only for Sikhs but for the entire country.” He asserted that the Memorial will not disturb the hard earned peace in Punjab. While describing the memorial, the memorial will be like “any other Gurdwara” with parkash of Guru Granth Sahib Ji. He assured that no photographs will be installed and there shall be no hoisting of ‘jaikaras’.
Note: The Badals are in a political alliance with the BJP, which includes leadership by politicians like LK Advani.
Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP)
To everyone’s surprise, the Bhartiya Janta Party has kept a very low profile on the issue of the memorial. In the past, the organisation staunchly opposed all Panthik developments. For now, it stands firmly with Parkash Badal, thanks to his promise that the memorial will not harm the communal harmony of Punjab.
The following comment was made by Punjab health minister Madan Mohan Mittal, member of the BJP who had made the following comment on Bhai Rajoana: “Bhartiya Janta Party does not consider a murderer (to be) a martyr”.
Note: LK Advani, former President of BJP, is “credited” for requesting Indira Gandhi to launch Operation Bluestar.
Punjab Congress
Capt. Amarinder Singh has alleged that a “peace memorial” should be constructed in memory of all those who lost their lives during the Operation Bluestar. The memorial should be constructed outside Darbar Sahib premises, and should also “honour” the Army and police personnel. As per Amarinder Singh, building a memorial within the premises would put it in comparison with the Harmandir Sahib and the Akal Takht Sahib which are unparalleled.
Note: Capt. Amarinder Singh heads the Congress Party, whose Central Body is directly responsible for the attack on Sri Harmandir Sahib and Akal Takht Sahib.
Paramjit Sarna (DSMGC)
The DSGMC would raise a memorial to pay homage to those killed in 1984 anti-Sikh Pogroms. This memorial would not be in the form of a Gurdwara and would be built outside one. He alleged support from everyone, including the Congress and the Prime Minister of India.
Note: Sarna holds close relations with the likes of Jagdish Tytler, those directly responsible for 1984 November Pogroms in Delhi. He is a staunch opponent of Parkash Badal.
Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)
S. Simranjit Singh Mann (SAD A) has long condemned the activities of Baba Harnaam Singh Dhumma. In a press statement last month, he had announced that the Sikh Nation would not accept any kind of kar-seva by Baba Dhumma to honour the victims of Operation Bluestar genocide. He said, such a memorial would be equal to the building constructed by Baba Santa Singh Nihung under the orders of Indira Gandhi. S. Mann further equated Baba Dhumma with LK Advani and titled both as culprits of the Sikhs.
Read the Press Statement by S. Simranjit Singh Mann
Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara
The June 1984 memorial should not be a simple spot at which people pay obeisance, rather it should become a unique and incomparable memorial, that encapsulates this glorious history of ours. It should clearly show the reasons for the Indian government’s army assault, the history of this attack and the Dharam Yudh Morcha prior to the attack. It should re-tell the story of Amar Shaheed Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranvale fighting until his last breath and the present struggle of Sikhs fighting for their sovereign state – Khalistan. It should tell us the future road map of how we will fight until we achieve sovereignty, collating all artefacts relating to Operation Blue Star and narrate how the Indian government alienated and persecuted the honourable and respected community of Saints, the Sikhs.
More by Bhai Hawara on the 1984 Memorial
Khalra Mission Organization & Punjab Human Rights Organisation
In a press statement made on May 16, the Khalra Mission Organisation and the Punjab Human Rights Organisation called upon Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar to keep away Baba Dhumma and the Badals from the memorial project. In the press note, it was said that the Badals had long opposed the ideology of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale, thus it does not make sense for them to play any part in the Operation Bluestar memorial. They also labeled Baba Dhumma as naïve to this ideology. Both organisations expressed the need for the memorial to be constructed by a neutral Panthik organisation.
Sikh24 would like to hear from its readers, what they think about the memorial and statement by the aforementioned individuals.
