SGPC observed ardas divas but opposed shutdown call

Amritsar (November 3, 2010): Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) and ruling Badal Dal, today, observed ardas divas (prayer day) to remember victims of Sikh Genocide 1984. Prayers were offered at various historical Sikh Gurudwaras managed by the SGPC. Senior leaders of SAD (Badal Dal) participated in prayer ceremony held at Darbar Sahib (Amritsar).Badal Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal criticized Congress for patronizing those who led mobs to kill Sikhs in November 1984. He said that his party would continue to protest against atrocities committed on Sikhs by the Congress Party.

SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar announced that SGPC would observer 3 November as ardas divas every year. Earlier he made it clear that SGPC would open all its’ offices and other institutions, in spite of Punjab shutdown call. It may be recalled that various Sikh organizations called for Punjab bandh (shutdown) on Nov. 3 to protest against denial of justice to the victims of Sikh massacre of November 1984.

When asked to comment upon move taken by SGPC, Bhai Harpal Singh Cheema and Kulbir Singh Barapind said that ‘SGPC by keeping its’ offices open, and Badal Dal by arresting Sikh leaders who were protesting against injustice done to Sikhs by Indian State, have betrayed the victims of 1984 massacre’. They accused SGPC of becoming a handi-tool of Badal Dal.

‘Both Badal Dal and Congress are patronizing those who killed Sikhs. If Congress is protecting Sajjan Kumar, an accused of 1984 violence, Badal Dal is protecting Police officers like Sumedh Saini, who killed innocent Sikhs in fake encounters’ said Barapind. ‘They are part of, and are work for the same system to harm Sikhs and the Sikh Nation. There is no difference between them.’ he added.

Sikh leaders expressed their satisfaction over the public response to shutdown call.