Hardeep Singh 

AMRITSAR Thousands of Sikh youths on Thursday gathered at Akal Takht Sahib to mark 40^th anniversary of 1984 army attack carried out by India on Central Sikh shrine Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple). They reiterated demand for Khalistan, sovereign Sikh nation, on the occasion, while remembering their martyrs including Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale who fought against the Indian security forces in the attack. 

The anniversary was observed as third Ghallughara (holocaust). On the occasion, ardas and kirtan were held after bhog ceremony of Akhand Paath. Pro-freedom Sikh leaders including Simranjit Singh Mann made presence on the occasion. 

The youngsters were carrying placards and posters which carried pictures of Sant Bhindranwale and other martyrs including Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar who was assassinated by the men of Indian agencies in Canada. They raised ‘Khalistan-Zindabad’ slogans. 

They seemed to be energized by the thumping victories of pro-freedom Sikh leader Bhai Amritpal Singh who is lodged to Dibrugarh jail of Assam under draconian law NSA, and Bhai Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, son of Beant Singh who assassinated the then Indian PM Indira Gandhi for launching attack on the sacred shrine during which Akal Takht was demolished. 

Khalsa also attended the function along with supporters. 

While delivering his Sandesh (message) Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib Giani Raghbir Singh paid rich tribute to all the martyrs of June 1984 Ghallughara including Sant Bhindranwale, Bhai Amrik Singh, General Shabeg Singh, Bhai Thara Singh. He called the Sikh community to move forward by making the wounds of this Ghallughara a strength. 

He said, “Not releasing the Sikh prisoners and not punishing the perpetrators of the November 1984 Sikh genocide even after 40 years is an unfair treatment of the Indian government towards the Sikhs. Therefore, instead of repeatedly pleading to Delhi for the political, geographical and economic rights of Panth and Punjab, Sikh politics based on the concept of Khalsa’s humility based rule”.

Referring to Sikh history, he said, “Sikhs played a leading role in the Indian freedom struggle against the British, but the promises made by the leaders of this country were forgotten after independence. They promised that the Sikhs would be provided autonomous territory, where they could enjoy freedom. However, the government officials were issued orders to keep a suspicious eye on the Sikhs, terming them as a ‘criminal tribe’’. 

“After a fierce struggle, the Sikhs got the Punjabi speaking state, but Punjab was deprived of the rightful river waters, the capital Chandigarh and many Punjabi speaking areas. The Sikhs were forced to start the Dharam Yudh Morcha on these issues of Punjab and the Anandpur Sahib Resolution to seek autonomy for the state”. 

The Jathedar said this effort of Sikhs was crushed by the policy of repression and to avenge the opposition of the Akali Dal during the Emergency, the egoistic and tyrannical Prime Minister Indira Gandhi made the military enter Sri Harmandar Sahib on June 1, 1984, on the occasion when the Sikh Sangat was observing martyrdom day of Sri Guru Arjan Dev and brutally killed Sikh men, women, children and elderly by firing bullets. He said that this attack of June 1984 is the third Ghallughara for the Sikh community and its pain and wounds will never be erased from the Sikh subconscious.

Giani Raghbir Singh also remembered the sacrifices of the Dharmi Faujis (soldiers who left barracks in protest against military action at Central Sikh shrine) who left their barracks. He said that the secret plan of Indira Gandhi to commit the genocide of Sikh youth under ‘Operation Woodrose’ could not succeed due to the rebellion of Dharmi Faujis.

The anniversary functions were organized at other places as well. A big congregation was organized at Sikh seminary Damdami Taksal’s headquarters Gurdwara Gurdarshan Parkash at Chowk Mehta in Amritsar district on large scale.