Family members of martyrs honoured during Shaheedi Samagam
Strengthening religious sentiment in Sikhs is essential for social, economic & political strength: Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh
Amritsar, June 6:
Annual Shaheedi Samagam (martyrdom congregation) was organised at Sri Akal Takht Sahib today to commemorate the martyrs Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale, Bhai Amrik Singh, Baba Thara Singh and General Shabeg Singh, who were martyred in the army attack on Sri Akal Takht Sahib by the then Congress Government of India in June 1984.
In this congregation organised by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), after the bhog of Sri Akhand Path Sahib, the ardas (prayer) was offered by Bhai Prem Singh and the hukamnama was recited by Giani Malkeet Singh, Head Granthi of Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
Head Granthi of Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib Giani Jagtar Singh, SGPC President Advocate S. Harjinder Singh, Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Harpreet Singh, Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Giani Raghbir Singh, Head of Dal Baba Bidhi Chand Samprada Baba Avtar Singh Sursingh and many prominent personalities attended this congregation.
Addressing the Sikh Qaum (community) on this occasion, Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Harpreet Singh said that the ghallughara (holocaust) of June 1984 is a painful saga of atrocities perpetrated on the Sikh community, which was the result of anti-Sikh plots of Indian state.
“Policy of beating and suppressing the Sikhs had started from the time of partition in 1947, with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as the mastermind and the result was that in 1984, the Congress Government of India attempted to annihilate the Sikh community by launching military attacks on Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib, Sri Akal Takht Sahib and other Gurdwara Sahibs. But the Sikh warriors, taking guidance from history, resisted the enemy army and attained martyrdoms”, said Giani Harpreet Singh.
Jathedar Sri Akal Takht Sahib said that the Sikhs have been blessed with the determination of Raj (sovereignty) from the time of Gurus (masters), which Sikhs still reiterate in their daily ardas as ‘Raj Karega Khalsa’.
“Today, the Qaum needs to be strong religiously, socially, economically and politically and to move in this direction, the Sikh youth will have to move forward in the world by getting high quality education. At the same time, it is imperative for the Sikh Qaum to be proficient in the Sikh martial art received as inheritance. Sikh Qaum should make arrangements for the training of youth in Sikh martial art (Gatka) and other heritage weapons and also set up the shooting ranges for training of modern weapons as required”, said Giani Harpreet Singh.
Giani Harpreet Singh said that many challenges are weakening the Sikhs including the menace of drugs and ideology of others.
“The preaching of Christianity by greed in the border areas is worrisome, which should be tackled by the Sikh institutions and jathebandis (organisations) by coming forward to preaching Sikh faith like the old Sikhs and saints did. Religious sentiments should be instilled in the Sikh youth in particular, so that the community becomes socially, economically and politically strong”, said Giani Harpreet Singh.
Meanwhile, Jathedar Sri Akal Takht Sahib also questioned the heavy deployment of forces by the government in Amritsar city during ghallughara (holocaust) week.
“The governments must understand that the Sikh community is not a community which intimidates but it protects the oppressed”, said Giani Harpreet Singh.
Giani Harpreet Singh said that the attack on several Sikh shrines including Sri Akal Takht Sahib still hurts the community and it is a historical fact that whoever attacked the Sikh shrines was doomed. He also thanked the prominent personalities and the Sangat for attending the martyrdom congregation of Ghallughara day.
During the Shaheedi Samagam, Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Giani Raghbir Singh also shared his views with the Sangat and termed the June 1984 holocaust as a genocidal act of the then Congress Government. He said that the Sikh community could never forget this holocaust but its wounds gets fresh every year.
On this occasion, Bhai Ishar Singh son of Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale, Bibi Harmeet Kaur wife of Shaheed Bhai Amrik Singh, his daughter Bibi Satwant Kaur, and brother Bhai Manjit Singh, S. Beant Singh brother of General Shabeg Singh, Bhai Bhupinder Singh son of Shaheed Bhai Nachhatar Singh, and the family members of several martyrs were honoured with Siropaos (robes of honour) by Head Granthi Giani Jagtar Singh, Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh and Advocate S. Harjinder Singh. Several other personalities associated with the Sikh struggle who arrived on this occasion were also bestowed with Siropao.
Those present in the congregation included SGPC General Secretary Jathedar Karnail Singh Panjoli, Executive Committee members S. Harjap Singh, members Bhai Rajinder Singh, Bhai Amarjit Singh, Bhai Manjit Singh, Bhai Gurcharan Singh, Bhai Ram Singh, S. Surjit Singh, Advocate Bhagwant Singh, S. Gurbachan Singh, S. Bhupinder Singh, S. Mangwinder Singh, S. Amarjit Singh, S. Jagsir Singh, Bhai Ajaib Singh, S. Sukhwarsh Singh, S. Avtar Singh, Bhai Waryam Singh brother of Shaheed Bhai Satwant Singh, former member S. Baldev Singh MA, S. Amarbir Singh, SGPC secretary Paramjit Singh, S. Partap Singh, S. Sukhminder Singh, assistant secretary media S. Kulwinder Singh, manager S. Sulakhan Singh, assistant secretary S. Balwinder Singh, S. Harjit Singh, S. Gurinder Singh, S. Gurmeet Singh, S. Tejinder Singh, S. Harjinder Singh, S. Simarjit Singh, S. Nirvail Singh, honorary secretary S. Gurmit Singh, former secretary S. Sukhdev Singh, S. Simranjeet Singh Mann, S. Jaskaran Singh Kahan Singh Wala, S. Narayan Singh and a large number of Sikh Sangat.
June 1984 holocaust will always be remembered as cruelest act in world religious history: S. Harjinder Singh
Remembering the Sikhs including men, women and children who got martyred in army attack by the then Congress Government of India in June 1984, SGPC President the Sikh warriors guarded the old Sikh traditions and carried forward a series of martyrdoms. Speaking after the Shaheedi Samagam related to June 1984 holocaust, S. Harjinder Singh said that the Sikh community can never tolerate the desecration of their shrines and the Sikh Panth has always given a stern response to the invading enemy.
“The holocaust of June 1984 was not by some outside enemy but it was a brutal act committed by the tyrannical government of our own country. It was an act of alienating the Sikhs which will be remembered as a cruelest act in the religious history in the world”, said S. Harjinder Singh.