Pro-Khalistan slogans raised in Golden Temple complex

Pro-Khalistan slogans were on Tuesday raised by Sikh hardliners in the premises of the Golden Temple complex here on the 33rd anniversary of Operation Bluestar.

A bandh was also observed in the holy city on the call given by radical Sikh outfit Dal Khalsa on the anniversary of the military operation that was carried out in 1984 to flush out heavily-armed terrorists holed up in the Golden Temple.

Policemen in civil clothes were deployed along with the SGPC's task force to thwart any attempt to disturb law and order.

When the Akal Takht (the highest temporal seat for Sikhs) Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh started his customary address, supporters of the SAD (A) led by Simranjit Singh Mann raised slogans of 'Khalistan Zindabad'.

Despite sloganeering, the Jathedar continued with his address to the Sikh community.

Some Sikh hardliners even raised slogans against Gurbachan Singh.

The 'Sarbat Khalsa' appointed "parallel" Jathedar Dhian Singh Mand, in his address from the ground floor of the Akal Takht, accused former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal of interfering in Sikh religious affairs including in the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

Mann said SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar had assured them on Monday that the Jathedar would not be allowed to address the Sikh community from the platform of Akal Takht.

Badungar had assured us that the head priest of the Golden Temple would be asked to address the community, said Mann.

However, former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal mounted pressure on Badungar and forced him to send Giani Gurbachan Singh to address the community instead of the head priest, claimed Mann.

Mann alleged that Sukhbir Badal had a plan to foment trouble in the Golden Temple premises. He also accused the Akal Takht Jathedar of allegedly hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community by accepting the apology of Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. The apology was later withdrawn after the Sikh community raised objections.

Addressing the gathering, Giani Gurbachan Singh said, "The Sikh community across the world will remember the unhealed wounds of Operation Blue Star".

The memorial dedicated to those killed during the 1984 Army action on the Golden Temple witnessed a steady stream of visitors.

In view of the anniversary, security personnel were on high alert in Punjab.