Amritsar (May 06, 2011): Shiromani Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani) today took up the issue of opening “Martyrs’ gallery” situated at Sri Akal Takhat and building up the memorials of “Sikh Martyrs” of June 1984. A delegation comprising senior leaders of Panch Pardhani tendered a memorandum to Giani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar of Sri Akal takhat, in this regard.
“We have also forwarded the copies of the memorandum to Avtar Singh Makkar, President of SGPC and Sukhbir Singh Badal, President of SAD (Badal). In case they fail to take appropriate action, we would launch a joint struggle in association with Panthic organizations and Martyrs’ families” informed Bhai Harpal Singh Cheema, Secretary General of Panch Pardhani.
“It is unfortunate that even after about 27 years the SGPC has failed to built up the memorial” reads the memorandum, in which it has also been claimed that “building the memorials of Sikh martyrs who laid their lives while protecting the sacred precincts from armed aggression was part of Sikh tradition”. References have also been made to the memorials of Baba Deep Singh and Baba Gurbax Singh, both heads of Damdami Taksal, situated with in the precincts of Darbar Sahib. It is further claimed that just like Bada Deep Singh and Baba Gurbax Singh, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, 14th head of Damdami Taksal, laid his life for Darbar Sahib along with “other Sikh warriors”, therefore their memorial should also be built with in the sacred precincts.
Panch Pardhani bitterly leaders criticized SGPC and SAD (Badal) for their ultimate failure to built the memorial since last 27 years. “A resolution was adopted by SGPC on 20 February, 2002 to built the memorial but no action is taken till date” they added, while demanded that responsibility of those responsible for failure should be fixed by Sri Akal Takhat Sahib.