Amritsar: On Thursday, on the 40th anniversary of Operation Bluestar, supporters and workers of radical Sikh organizations raised pro-Khalistan slogans.
Activists of various organisations, including Simranjit Singh Mann-led Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and former MP Dhyan Singh Mand, raised slogans at the Akal Takht, the highest temporary seat of the Sikhs. Mann, who recently lost the Lok Sabha elections from Sangrur seat, was also present.
Led by radical outfit Dal Khalsa, some Sikh youth were carrying Khalistani flags and photographs of the damaged Akal Takht - the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs.
Dal Khalsa activists were seen carrying placards with photographs of slain militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed in Canada last year.The entire marble perimeter of the Golden Temple, the holiest Sikh shrine, near the Akal Takht echoed with pro-Khalistan slogans.
Some Sikh youths carried banners and placards with 'Khalistan Zindabad' written on them.
Elaborate security arrangements were made in Amritsar to ensure that the event was conducted peacefully.
In his message to the Sikh community, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh said that the two Sikhs who won the Lok Sabha elections as independents should raise their voice in Parliament for the release of 'Bandhi Singh' (Sikh prisoners who have completed their jail term).
Singh was referring to Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, son of radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassin Beant Singh.While 'Waris Punjab De' organization chief Amritpal Singh, who is currently lodged in Assam's Dibrugarh jail under the National Security Act, won the Khadur Singh Lok Sabha seat, Khalsa won the Faridkot seat.
Giani Raghbir Singh further said that the need of the hour is that Sikh preachers and scholars should visit villages to promote Sikhism and make the youth aware of the rich Sikh principles and history so that they can be united under the banner of Akal Takht.
On the occasion, the Jathedar declared that Bhindranwale and his supporters killed during Operation Bluestar in 1984 were "martyrs" and the Akal Takht honored their families.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex Sikh religious body, displayed the sacred 'saroop' (section) of Guru Granth Sahib riddled with bullets.
At that time, the 'Sarup' installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple was damaged by gunfire during an army operation in 1984.Operation Bluestar was launched by the Army in June 1984 to flush out armed terrorists from the Golden Temple.
Activists of various organisations, including Simranjit Singh Mann-led Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and former MP Dhyan Singh Mand, raised slogans at the Akal Takht, the highest temporary seat of the Sikhs. Mann, who recently lost the Lok Sabha elections from Sangrur seat, was also present.
Led by radical outfit Dal Khalsa, some Sikh youth were carrying Khalistani flags and photographs of the damaged Akal Takht - the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs.
Dal Khalsa activists were seen carrying placards with photographs of slain militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed in Canada last year.The entire marble perimeter of the Golden Temple, the holiest Sikh shrine, near the Akal Takht echoed with pro-Khalistan slogans.
Some Sikh youths carried banners and placards with 'Khalistan Zindabad' written on them.
Elaborate security arrangements were made in Amritsar to ensure that the event was conducted peacefully.
In his message to the Sikh community, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh said that the two Sikhs who won the Lok Sabha elections as independents should raise their voice in Parliament for the release of 'Bandhi Singh' (Sikh prisoners who have completed their jail term).
Singh was referring to Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, son of radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassin Beant Singh.While 'Waris Punjab De' organization chief Amritpal Singh, who is currently lodged in Assam's Dibrugarh jail under the National Security Act, won the Khadur Singh Lok Sabha seat, Khalsa won the Faridkot seat.
Giani Raghbir Singh further said that the need of the hour is that Sikh preachers and scholars should visit villages to promote Sikhism and make the youth aware of the rich Sikh principles and history so that they can be united under the banner of Akal Takht.
On the occasion, the Jathedar declared that Bhindranwale and his supporters killed during Operation Bluestar in 1984 were "martyrs" and the Akal Takht honored their families.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex Sikh religious body, displayed the sacred 'saroop' (section) of Guru Granth Sahib riddled with bullets.
At that time, the 'Sarup' installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple was damaged by gunfire during an army operation in 1984.Operation Bluestar was launched by the Army in June 1984 to flush out armed terrorists from the Golden Temple.
