In a first, Akal Takht to produce video documentary on Operation Bluestar

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 1

Thirty-seven years after Operation Bluestar, the Akal Takht has announced plans to make a documentary on the Army’s operation in June 1984.

For the purpose, the officiating Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh has called up the surviving dramatis personae to submit their experience in a video format so that these could be compiled to recreate what happened inside the Golden Temple complex during those fateful days between June 1 and 10 in 1984.

The idea behind was to have an authentic and credible account with the help of interviews with eyewitnesses, interrogation reports of the Army and the actual instructions about the Operation.

Jathedar met an eyewitness Harwinder Singh Khalsa, a ‘Panth Sewak’ awardee by the Akal Takht, to know about his experience.

“The Akal Takht aimed to gather the ‘first person account’ and record of the Army’s action at the instance of the then Centre government. It is believed that some startling facts were still to be explored. When I met Harwinder Khalsa, I came to know for the first time about the role played by the commorades, the conduct of the Armymen, how they were jailed and subjected to inhuman treatment,” he said.

He told that the younger generation should know the truth about the armed struggle and the Army’s action. Besides those who were actively involved in the struggle, there were scores of common pilgrims who had nothing to do with it but were victimised during the operation. There was no evidence to certify the Army’s stance that the warnings were given for pilgrims to leave the Golden Temple complex before commencing their Operation.

“This all should be put on record. I have appealed to those, who bore the brunt of this action and eyewitnesses, including the women, to approach Akal Takht so that their experience could be incorporated in the documentary that would be made and endorsed by the Akal Takht. They have been asked to record whatever they knew in a video clipping,” he said.