Akal Takht: Will accept separate state if offered

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 6

Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh today justified ‘pro-Khalistan’ slogans at Operation Bluestar anniversary in the Golden Temple complex. “Had slogans been raised during the function, causing disruption, it could have been objectionable. But there is nothing wrong in slogans being raised after the function”, he said.

On the “Khalistan” demand, he replied: “If the government offers us Khalistan, we will accept it”. The SGPC president, Gobind Singh Longowal, when asked if the SGPC would put up the demand before the Centre, replied: “If someone gives us (Khalistan), we will take it. No Sikh can refuse such an offer”.

Amritsar was virtually turned into a fortress today. Even the media was not allowed to cover the event. Metal detectors were placed at all entrances to the Golden Temple.

SAD (Amritsar) activists and the 2015 Sarbat Khalsa-appointed ‘parallel’ officiating Jathedar Dhyan Singh Mand and his supporters were engaged in heated arguments. Mand read out his ‘public address’ at the

Akal Takht secretariat.