Cell formed for relief to Bluestar detainees

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 24

The SGPC has constituted a cell to legally pursue the cases of Sikhs, who were “illegally detained” in a Jodhpur jail after Operation Bluestar, said Sikh body chief Gobind Singh Longowal, while commencing the kar sewa for the construction of facade of the Golden Temple’s Guru Ramdas Langar hall on Sunday.

He claimed that the then Union government had arrested 365 Sikhs after the 1984 Army operation and detained them in Jodhpur jail. “Of these, names of only 40 Sikhs were forwarded by a session court of Amritsar to the Central government for compensation,” he said.

He said the SGPC would ensure compensation to all detainees. “We have already offered them jobs and financial aid,” he said.

Meanwhile, the kar sewa started after a delay of seven years. Owing to the increase in the footfall of devotees at the Golden Temple, the SGPC has decided to expand the langar hall. Baba Bachan Singh and Baba Mahinder Singh Delhi Wale have been assigned the kar sewa.

Once completed, it will double the capacity of langar hall to 10,000 devotees.