AMRITSAR: While the Damdami Taksal is still ambiguous regarding its public stand on death of Sant Jarnail ‘Singh Bhindranwale during the Operation Blue Star in the Golden Temple 4984, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has decided to reveal the facts about the sant’s death in “black and white.” Mr. Manjit Singh Calcutta, secretary of the SGPC, in an exclusive “interview said that they had already admitted that Bhindranwale was no more alive. He said the confusion was being created by the Damdami Taksal allegedly to safeguard their vested interests.

He said the SGPC would soon publish a white paper on the Operation Blue Star in which all facts about the death of Sant Bhindranwale would be laced before public, adding that the ‘SGPC had honored Sant Bhindranwala posthumously in the as session of the World Sikh Conference in October.

The decision of the SGPC to bring ‘out documentary evidence regarding Bhindranwale’s death is considered a fall out of the beginning of fresh confrontation between the SGPC and the “Taksal on the issue of “maryada” and control of gurdwaras, Even a controversy over “kar seva” of the Akal Takiit being performed by the Taksal acmes 16 be in the offing.

Mr, Calcutta said that the SGPC “might think to take back the authority of conducting ‘kar sewa’ of the Akal Takht from the Taksal. He said it was desecration of the SGPC to allow the Taksal to continue the kar.

The Taksal had started a campaign to malign the SGPC by leveling allegations of corruption and mismanagement. He said this was part of the government conspiracy to create confusion among the Sikhs before the general elections of the SGPC.

He alleged that a senior police officer posted at Amritsar had arranged a meeting between Central Intelligence Agencies and the Damdami Taksal men, He said that parallel processions taken out by the taksal was an evidence of promoting confrontation.

Mr. Calcutta said that the Taksal was aiming at establishing control ‘over the SGPC in the general elections, He said “let the Taksal contest elections and their misconception about popularity among the Sikhs would be removed, He posed a counter question as to why the Taksal not offering to conduct similar elections to elect head of the Damdami Taksal. He said that the Damdami Taksal was not personal properly of anyone.

Mr. Calcutta said the SGPC election was expected to be held in September or October in 1996, He said it was deliberately delayed by the government which was bound to hold elections every five years and that the government’s intentions about election were still doubtful.

Mr. Calcutta said the SGPC had strongly objected to the state government and the Election Commission against enrolment of non-Sikh voters for the SGPC elections. He said the government had circulated enrollment forms for non-Sikhs (Gahajdharis) in a large number.

Article extracted from this publication >> November 10, 1995