NEW DELHI, India: The Government of India has laid down some stringent conditions to S.G.P.C., before delivering the charge of the Golden Temple Complex. But according to the latest reports, the S.G.P.C, has so far not agreed to give any written or formal consent to those conditions.
The Government has called upon the S.G.P.C. to give assurance that the temple complex will be kept free from the Sikh freedom fighters. In other words, the government wants the S.G.P.C. not to allow any Amrit Dhari Youngman to enter into the complex. The official spokesman said that the government and S.G.P.C. are still in close touch with each other. The spokesman described the attitude of the gurdwara committee as very vague. According to him both Buta Singh and! Governor S.S. Ray wanted these assurances before the temple could be handed over to the Management Committee.
According to another report, some other organizations including Namdhari Darbar Rangretta Dal and Chief Khalsa Diwan has assured the government that in case S.G.P.C. fails to comply with the government’s conditions they will be prepared to help the government.
According to some recent reports the Government has imposed some more conditions before the charge of the temple is given to the Committee.
It included the demolition of those rooms in the Parikarma area where the freedom fighters were staying. The government also insisted that police screen every pilgrim before he/she was allowed to enter into the Complex. The government has even gone to the extent of making a thorough checking of the langar requirements at the nearest police station before these products are allowed to be taken inside the temple. The government has also sought to keep some policemen inside the Golden Temple permanently to keep a watch on the activities of the freedom fighters.
They have also asked the S.G.P.C. to form a high power supervisory committee to evaluate the working of the temple from time to time. However, the management committee has not so for responded to the acceptance of the conditions.
According to another report, the committee has described these difficult to accept.
According to an additional information received earlier, the paramilitary and police have made arrangements to initiate religious routine under the supervision Bhai Mohan Singh who has been recently released from Patiala Jail Last evening the kirtan was relayed on the All India Radio to show to the world that everything was normal in the Complex.
Another report indicated that the S.G.P.C.’s acting President ha: as conveyed to the Deputy Commission, Amritsar that the Committee will not object to the entry of the police if the freedom fighter occupy the rooms in the Pari karma area.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 27, 1988
