Amritsar/Moga (June 01, 2014): Leaders of Dal Khalsa has given the call for “Amritsar shutdown” on 6 June to mark the 30th anniversary of army attack at Darbar Sahib and Akal Takht Sahib, code-named Operation Bluestar by the government of India in 1984.
Addressing a press conferences at the party office, Dal Khalsa leadership led by its spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said the motive to give the call for Amritsar Bandh was to protest against the killings of hundreds of innocent pilgrims, the loot of invaluable holy books, manuscripts and arte-facts from the Sikh Reference Library and to recall and relive the pain and agony of the heinous attack besides paying tributes to all martyrs and innocent persons killed in the dastardly inhuman action of the state.
Justifying the call, he said since Amritsar was a battle-ground, they had decided to give the call for Amritsar bandh only.
He urged the people to observe a peaceful bandh to send a strong and firm message to the government that the wounds of June 1984 genocidal attack were still simmering and that the Sikhs would never forget this. He clarified that the call was only for business and educational institutions and there would be no stoppage of transportation.
The hardliner leader appealed to the non-Sikh population of Amritsar to share the pain of the community and express solidarity by closing their business premises. “It is time for the Hindu community to show that they are a friend of the Sikhs.”
Outlining the programs, Kanwar Pal Singh said that to commemorate the day, a Genocide Remembrance Parade would go around the streets of Amritsar, on the eve of the thirtieth anniversary on June 5.
He said the blood of innocent spilled on the sacred floor of Darbar Sahib cries for justice. No perpetrator has been held accountable for slaughtering hundreds of innocent pilgrims; no attempt has been made to address all territorial, economic, social, language and cultural issues and concerns for which the Sikh struggle was waged.
Elaborating further, he reiterated that the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) had always asserted that the Congress party had carried out the heinous attack on Sikhs. However, the fact is that the BJP asked for it, the Congress party carried out the attack and the whole of India reveled on it. Subsequently, the BJP elevated Indira Gandhi as “Devi” for destruction and desecration of Akal Takht Sahib.
“Today, Congress is out of power and the SAD is in power with the BJP. It is time for the Badals to test the waters by seeking the return of arte-facts, manuscripts, rare holy books and cultural heritage from the Modi sarkar.
Party’s senior members Sarabjit Singh Ghuman, Ranbir Singh, Baldev Singh Ajnala, Dr Arpal Singh, Gurwinder Singh, SYP head Nobeljit Singh and Manjit Singh were present during the meeting.
