AMRITSAR: Except for a brief altercation between Akali Dal activists and acting Akal Takht Jathedar Prof Manjit Singh, observation of “Ardas Diwas” (prayer day) on the 12th anniversary of Operation Blue Star held inside the Golden Temple complex, passed off peacefully here last week. The bhog of Akhand path was performed at the Akal Takht and homage was paid to the martyrs of the 1984 army action during the prayers.

The altercation occurred after the jathedar completed his public speech in which he appealed for unity among all Akali factions and also took the Akali Dal (Badal) to task for demanding an official apology from the Central Government for the army action.

Supporters of the Mann Dal, who were led by Mr. Sucha Singh Chhotepur, raised Bhinder wala Zindabad and Simranjit Singh Mann “Zindabad” slogans and accused the Jathedar of playing a partisan role and backing out from the controversial ‘Amritsar Declaration,’ a document which had the sanction of the Akal Takht, the highest spiritual and temporal seat of Sikhs.

Mann Dal supporters accused the rival Badal faction of being responsible for the arrest of their leader Simranjit Singh Mann, who was picked up by the police from the city at midnight. Mr. Mann, who was to take part in a parallel ‘Ardas Diwas,’ function organized by his supporters inside the shrine, was arrested under Section 107 and 151 of the Criminal Penal Code (CrPC).

Reacting to the Badal Dal demand for a Government apology for “Operation Blue Star,’ Prof Manjit Singh in his speech said it was a demand being put forward to gain political mileage. Instead of begging for an apology, it should come voluntarily from the Government and from those who were responsible for the operation, he added.

Referring to former Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee’s statement describing the 1984 operation as an ‘unfortunate incident’ and asking Sikhs to forgive and forget,’ the Jathedar said “the former Prime Minister could have offered apologies because such a heinous Crime could never be forgotten by Sikhs. It was at this point that Mr. Ajaib Singh Ghuman and Mr. Baldev Singh Sirsa of the Mann Dal got up and demanded to know as to why Vajpayee was honored by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) during his visit to the Golden Temple. The Jathedar, however, chose not to answer the questions being posed by Mann Dal supporters who numbered around seven. On the contrary, he called upon all Akali factions to unite and prevent any further persecution.

Referring to the SGPC general elections, Prof Manjit Singh noted that 21 different groups or political parties had sought registration for contesting these elections. He advised that instead of entering into contests all parties should sit down and select the SGPC representatives.

The jathedar also came down heavily upon those advocating separation of religion from politics. He was of the opinion that both these were inseparable in Sikhism. Besides SGPC employees, regular devotees, Mann Dal and Badal faction.

Article extracted from this publication >>  June 12, 1996