By:

Dr. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer Professor of Sikh Studies Since June 4, 1984 the Indian army had been occupying Darbar Sahib and Akal Takht Sahib and several other Gurdwaras, Sikkhs were not allowed to enter the Sikh shrines. On July 16, 1984, Dr. Rajinder Kaur led a band of Sikh women to court arrestor the freedom of Darbar Sahib and Akal Takht Sahib, The Indian army did not want 19 vacate the Sikh shrines as the shrines had been badly destroyed and no Sikh was really to begin repair and renovation of Akal Takht Sahib and Darbar Sahib, On July 16, 1984, Indira Gandhi prepared her agent Santa Singh, a phoney Nihang, to begin the repairs and renovations of the complex. Repairs were started on August, 1984, Santa Singh, Nihal Singh of Harian Velan, and an ascetic from Kaleran “inaugurated” construction. Nihal Singh, later, apologized for his participation), All work was done by the contractor Tejwant Singh (Later, Bhai Manjit Singh, brother of Bhai Amrik ‘Singh, rewarded him by appointing him ‘General Secretary of his Akali Dal’s Delhi unit) of “Skipper Buildings” (a construction company), Delhi, under the supervision of the Indian army. During this work Kirpal Singh, Sahib Singh and Pritam Singh the Grans his of Darbar Sahib Complex had been fully participating in the construction, repair and renovation work. ‘On the other hand Kirpal Singh played another drama. A World Sikh Convention was announced, On September 2, 1984, this convention decreed that if army did not vacate the shrines by September 30, an agitation will be started. Why did they give a notice of one month? The builders had assured the Granthis that the building of Akal Takht Sahib would be ready by September 25, Kirpal Singh expected to declare it ass Sikh victory to make the Sikhs forget very thing. On September 25, 1984 Kirpal Singh, Harcharan Singh Mahalon, Sahin Singh, Lakha Singh Pritam Singh posing them: selves as Purj Piaray forgave Zail Sing for the attack on Akal Takht Sahib and Darbar Sahib. These five Granthis said that Zail was unaware of the attack and had never sanctioned it, Firstly, it was impossible that Zail had shown all the records which were “Most Secret”; secondly Zail, in bis address on Indian Television had, in unequivocal words, justified the attack the Sikh shrines, (Later, ‘on July 10, 1885, he honored and presented awards the army officials who had shown ‘bravery’ during the invasion of the Sikh shrines). On September: 27, 1985, Zail visited Darbar Sahib. He was taken to Akal Takht. ‘Sahib and all te five Gran thus were present on the dias of Akal Takht Sahib to be photographed with Zail, The picture shows how happy they were to such  photograph with Zail Sin, On September 29, 1984, the army formally vacated the Sikh shrines, In reality the army never left and ‘was still present in the shrines in plain clothes. Armed soldiers were still occupying the complex of the shrines.

On October 1, 1984, the Sikhs raised slogans against the liar Jathedar Kirpal Singh, Some young persons showered him with blows. He called the police and had ‘more than 300 Sikhs were arrested.

On October 12, 1984 Kar Seva (cleaning Of silt of sacred tank) began and Sikhs started visiting the shrine. The destruction of the complex, though it had been renovated by the Government, was still visible, Hate for Kirpal Singh began to escalate.

On October 31, Bhai Beant Singh and Bhai Satwant Singh killed Indira Gandhi ‘at her residence. They later surrendered themselves stating that they had punished her for her attack on the holy Sikh shrines and for the massacre of thousands of Sikhs. (Bhai Beant Singh was murdered at the spot, Bhai Satwant Singh was hanged on January 6, 1989 along with an innocent Sikh, Bhai Kehar Singh). After the murder of Indira Gandhi the Hindus butchered more than 25,000 Sikhs. More than 10,000 Sikhs were killed in Delhi alone. ‘The killers were led by Members of Parliament, police officials and some senior government officers. (One of the killers, Lalit Makan, was killed on July 30, 1985. His father-in-law was compensated with the Presidency of India). Rajiv Gandhi justified the killings, moreover, according to reliable sources, it was Rajiv Gandhi who had sanctioned these killings. The Sikhs were butchered in the most inhuman manner. The atrocities perpetrated were unknown to human history until then. Several prominent world leaders were present in Delhi when this inhuman massacre was going on but not one voice ‘was raised against this butchery.

On January 16, 1985, an attempt was made on the life of Kirpal Sink, who was still occupying Akal Takht Sahib. The Indian Prime Minister saved him by getting him the best possible medical aid. Similarly Pritam Singh (another Granthi), too, escaped on February 12, 1985. Meanwhile, the Indian Government and Harchand Singh Longowal were entering into a secret deal which matured as the “Rajiv Longowal Compromise” on July 24, 1985. This “compromise” resulted in the murder of Harchand Singh Longowal ‘on August20,1985, Subsequently the Congress installed Surjit Barnala as the Chief Minister of Punjab, on September 29, 1985 knowing that he would do everything possible to crush the freedom movement of the Sikhs. His first task was to

repeatedly send police into Darbar Sahib Complex: He was acting as Chief Minister but in fact it was Rajiv Gandhi who ruled Punjab by proxy.

On October31, 1985, n special congregation was held at Darbar Sahib to commemorate the martyrdom of Bhai Beant Singh. In this congregation a resolution ‘was passed that the building of Akal Takht Sahib as restored by the Indian regime ‘was a profane structure and the Sikh nation shall demolish it. The same day, part of the new sinecure was demolished, It Was decided that Kar Sewa for demolition and re-constriction of the building of Akal ‘Takht Sahib will be started on January 26, 1986. Bhindran Mehta Jatha decided 10 hold a function before Akal Takht Sahib, on January 26, 1986.

TO BE CONTINUED.

Article extracted from this publication >> May 12, 1995