No showdown, Jathedar Giani Gargaj offers ardas at Akal Takht on Operation Bluestar anniversary

Amidst tight security, members of different Panthic organisations and radical Sikh outfits participated in the 41st anniversary of Operation Bluestar, which passed off peacefully at the Akal Takht on Friday.

Confrontation between the Sikh organisations during the religious ceremony was avoided as officiating Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargaj neither addressed the Sikh Sangat from the Akal Takht ‘faseel’ (rostrum) nor felicitated the Sikh families who had lost their near and dear ones during the Army operation carried out to flush out the holed up armed separatists in the year 1984.

Since the start of the ceremony in 1999 to pay respects to the victims of the Army operation, both these ceremonies are performed by the Akal Takht Jathedar. It is for the first time that the Akal Takht Jathedar delivered the address to the Sikh Sangat through ‘ardas’.

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami felicitated the Sikh families, who had lost their near and dear ones during the Army strike, with ‘siropa’ (robe of honour).

Different panthic organisations, including Damdami Taksal led by Harnam Singh Dhuma, and radical outfits, were not in favour of the officiating Jathedar addressing the Sangat and felicitating kin of those who died in the Operation Bluestar.

To avoid a confrontation among Panthic outfits, Dhami had met Dhuma at Taksal’s headquarter at Mehta and Gargaj met Sikh prisoner Balwant Singh Rajoana, a death row convict in CM Beant Singh assassination case, in the Patiala Central Jail on June 3.

Dhuma, along with a large number of followers, participated in the ceremony at the Akal Takht. He organised another event at Mehta.

Talking to mediapersons after taking part in the religious programme commemorating the anniversary, Dhuma thanked Dhami for avoiding the confrontation between Panthic organisations. H

e added that it sent a positive message to the Sikh community residing across the world.

Former MP Simranjit Singh Mann and leaders of Dal Khalsa were also present. Hardliners raised slogans in favour of a separate state for the Sikh community. Former MP Dhian Singh Mand, who was appointed acting jathedar at the 2015 Sarbat Khalsa, issued a separate “sandesh” (message) to the “qaum” (community).

The Amritsar bandh call given by Dal Khalsa and other Sikh organisations evoked a complete response today.

Meanwhile, elaborate police ‘bandobast’ was made in the entire city and around the Golden Temple complex. Cops in mufti were present during the ceremony.