Damdami Taksal asks Centre to ‘apologise’ for Op Bluestar
Senior leaders meet MP Subramanian Swamy in New Delhi; submit memorandum
AMRITSAR: Damdami Taksal, Sikh seminary, met senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy at New Delhi on Thursday, demanding that the Union government should apologise for Operation Bluestar.
The delegation of Taksal led by its chief, Harnam Singh Dhumma, met Swamy as “he is an exceptional BJP leader having a soft corner for Taksal’s 14th chief Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale”, who was killed during the operation launched by the then Union government in June 1984 to flush the militants out of Golden Temple.
In the memorandum handed over to the BJP leader, Taksal demanded that the BJP-led Union government ‘apologise’ for the act before Guru Granth Sahib at the Golden Temple to reduce the pain of Sikhs. “In addition, a resolution should be passed in the Parliament against the operation,” said Dhumma.
Other demands listed in the memorandum included termination of black list of Sikhs, widening and beautification of ways to Darbar Sahib, passing of Anand Marriage Act, re-establishment of Gurdwara Gyan Godri Sahib at Haridwar, justice for 1984 Sikh massacre victims, returning of arrow of Bhindranwale and rare manuscripts of Sikh Reference Library, releasing Sikh prisoners, ensuring safety of Sikligar Sikhs.
The delegation comprised Akal Takht jathedar Jasbir Singh Rode, Ajaib Singh Abhyasi, spokesperson Charanjit Singh Jassowal and Sarchand Singh to whom the BJP legislature assured to look into their demands.