Amritsar: Giani Gurbachan Singh today kept a low profile at a Shaheedi Samagam held in the memory of Shaheed Satwant Singh and Shaheed Kehar Singh. The Shaheedi Samagam was held at Gurdwara Jhanda-Bunga Sahib near Akal Takhat Shaib within the Darbar Sahib complex.
It is believed that Giani Gurbachan Singh name was not announced from the stage as a speaker on the occasion in order to avoid any further controversy in wake of call for his ‘boycott’ by the Akal Takhat Panj Pyare. Sourced told SSN that Giani Gurbachan Singh was not even asked to honour the kin of the Shaheeds and quietly left the venue, almost unnoticed.
Darbar Sahib’s granthi, Bhai Maan Singh bestowed ‘siropa’ to Shaheed Satwant Singh’s mother Pyar Kaur, his brother Gurnam Singh and another relative Atma Singh.
The Tribune (TT) quotes Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh saying that it appeared that the SGPC had acquiesced to keep the Jathedar at an arm’s length.
It is notable that an annual Shaheedi Samagam marks the martyrdom day of Shaheed Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh at the Akal Takhat Sahib as they have been recognised as “national martyrs” of the Sikh nation. Duo had attained martyrdom after they were sentenced to death by Indian courts in relation to the execution of former Indian PM Indira Gandhi.