GURDASPUR, Punjab—Bhog ceremony of Shaheed Bhai Satwant Singh Agwan’s father Bapu Tarlok Singh who passed away few days ago, was held today at village Agwan (district Gurdaspur). It was attended by great number of Sikh Sangat and leaders of various Sikh political, religious and other organizations. The attendees paid tribute to the great father in a large scale religious function held after the bhog ceremony.
Most of the speakers were associated with ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) and numerous leaders of pro-freedom Panthik organizations including Shiromani Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani), Akhand Kirtani Jatha International, Panthik Sewa Lehar, Sikh Youth Federation Bhindranwala, Sikh Youth Front, some SGPC members were not allowed to speak at the stage making accuse of lack of time. Dastar was presented to Bapu Tarlok Singh’s son Bhai Gurnam Singh.
Today morning, Bhog ceremony of Akhand Path Sahib was held. It was followed by Antim Ardas and after that tribute function started in open ground under a tent. Paying tribute to Bapu Tarlok Singh, various speakers termed him as ‘Great Father’. They remembered tolerance, calmness and determination shown by family of Bapu Tarlok Singh during the time when his son Satwant Singh was sentenced to death. They promised to keep standing with the family for ever.
Addressing the Sikh Sangat, Sri Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said, “On this occasion, we should vow to be active to uphold principles of ‘Guru Granth and Guru Panth’. He called various Sikh bodies to unite on single platform in order to make efforts to get Sikh political prisoners released from Jails.
Former Jathedar Jasbir Singh Rode said that the Sikh nation lacks leader nowadays and after Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, nobody could be eligible who could lead the youth of the nation to continue the struggle.
Dal Khalsa president Harcharanjit Singh Dhami said that among us most of the leaders recognize our Shaheeds as ‘Shaheed’ on such occasion but when they are to speak on TV channel, they utter words of dual meanings. He said, ‘Why don’t we clarify about our martyrs?’
Former MP and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) senior vice president Bhai Dhian Singh Mand said that we talk about following the deeds done by our martyrs but in present circumstances we show reluctance in talking even about achieving our separate Sikh homeland. During his speech, slogans of ‘Khalistan-Zindabad’ were raised by Sikh Sangat following which stage secretary announced that the speakers should limit their speech for just paying tribute and they should not make the function of any single organization.
Pertinently, SAD (B)’s leader and SGPC member Bhai Manjit Singh termed ‘Sant’ Harchand Singh Longowal as traitor of the nation for signing on accord with the then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. While the stage secretary gave time to late comers including Virsa Singh Valtoha and Rajinder Singh Mehta but did not give time to Akhand Kirtani Jatha International head Bhai Baldev Singh, SAD (Panch Pardhani) leader Bhai Kulvir Singh Barapind, United Akali Dal president Bhai Mohkam Singh, SGPC’s executive member Karnail Singh Panjoli despite numbers of requests made by them.
The Sikh leader forgot to present Siropao to Shaheed Bhai Kehar Singh’s son Satwant Singh and they did so after the function. Bhai Kehar Singh was hanged along with Bhai Satwant Singh in 1989. Wasan Singh Jaffarwal, Sarabjit Singh Ghuman, Sikh Youth Of Punjab leader Parmjit Singh, Sikh Youth Federation Bhindranwala leader Bhai Ranjit Singh, Bhai Harpreet Singh, Simranjit Singh, SAD (A) leader Jarnail Singh Sakhira, Harbir Singh Sandhu, Amrik Singh Nangal and Ajit Singh Bath were among those who attended the tribute function.
