Family members of martyrs of holocaust were honored with Siropao
Amritsar, June 6:
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) today organised the annual martyrdom congregation to commemorate Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale, Bhai Amrik Singh, Baba Thara Singh and General Shabeg Singh, who were martyred during the military attack on Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib and Sri Akal Takht Sahib by the then Congress government of India in June 1984.
The congregation organised at Sri Akal Takht Sahib was attended by head granthi of Sri Harmandar Sahib Giani Jagtar Singh, SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami, Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Harpreet Singh, Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Giani Raghbir Singh, Baba Nihal Singh head of Tarna Dal Harian Velan, Baba Avtar Singh Sursingh head of Dal Baba Bidhi Chand Samprada, former Jathedar Bhai Jasbir Singh Khalsa, and many Pathic personalities.
On this occasion, bhog (concluding ceremony) of Sri Akhand Path Sahib was held and the hazuri raagi jathas performed Gurbani Kirtan.
Speaking on this occasion, Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh emphasized the need for organising the Sikh Shakti (power). He said that Sikhs can never forget the 1984 Sikh Genocide.
“This ghallughara (holocaust) is not only scar on the body of the Sikhs but deep wounds on their heart. We want to make it clear to the governments that the 1984 holocaust is not weakness of Sikhs but by remembering it, the community becomes stronger”, said Giani Harpreet Singh.
The Jathedar said that the community should not expect any justice from the governments of this oppression committed by the then government of India, but should unite and strengthen the Sikh power by self-churning. He said that so far many governments have been formed but none has given justice to the Sikhs. If the Sikh power is united, then the governments will be forced to act by themselves.
Giani Harpreet Singh appealed to the Sikh organizations, dignitaries, former Jathedars, and preachers of the community to come forward and run an intensive campaign of religious preaching at the village level to create a wave.
“This is the time for the community to forget its internal differences and come together under the leadership of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. Today the youth is being ruined through drugs. The mindset of the youth is being changed with misleading propaganda on social media. We have to pay attention to this phenomenon and move together”, said Giani Harpreet Singh.
The Jathedar also gave a message to strengthen Sikh institutions. He said that Sikh institutions are the source of Sikh power, but it is sad that in the recent past, some Sikh institutions have gone into the government’s hands. The community has to pay attention to this so that Sikh institutions remain under Sikh influence, he said. Giani Harpreet Singh paid his respects to all the martyrs of the June 1984 holocaust and especially remembered Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindrawale, Bhai Amrik Singh, Baba Thara Singh, and General Shabeg Singh.
During the event, Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Giani Raghbir Singh also shared his views with the Sangat and termed the June 1984 Genocide as an inhumane act of the then Congress government. He said that the oppression by the Indian government at that time of the Sikhs left behind the atrocities committed by Abdali. These wounds inflicted by the government can never be erased from the hearts of the Khalsa Panth, he said.
On this occasion, Giani Jagtar Singh, Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, Harjinder Singh Dhami, and Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh honoured Bhai Ishar Singh son of Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwalia, Bibi Satwant Kaur daughter of Shaheed Bhai Amrik Singh and his brother Bhai Manjit Singh Bhurakohna, Bhai Bhupinder Singh Bhalwan son of Shaheed Bhai Nachhatar Singh Bhalwan, federation leader Kanwarcharat Singh, and several more family members with Siropao (robe of honour). More personalities related to the Sikh struggle were also honored with Siropao.
Pilgrims pay obeisance to holy saroop of Guru Granth Sahib, hit by a bullet in June 1984 military attack
The holy saroop of Guru Granth Sahib, hit by a bullet in the June 1984 military attack on Sri Harmandar Sahib and Sri Akal Takht Sahib, by the then Government of India, was enshrined for pilgrims to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj Baba Gurbakhsh Singh. Along with this, the bullet that had hit the holy saroop was also displayed to the pilgrims.
Giani Gurminder Singh, granthi of Sri Harmandar Sahib served to enshrine the holy saroop at the Gurdwara, while the SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami and head granthi of Akal Takht Sahib Giani Gurmukh Singh shared the information about the relics to the congregation.
SGPC President said, “The atrocities inflicted by Congress on Sikhs will be remembered as long as the world lasts. Every year in the month of June, the sentiments of the Sikh community go through deep pain and every sensible person condemns this despicable act of the government. Damaging the holy saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji in June 1984 is a deep wound to the Sikh psyche.”
SGPC President terming all the martyrs of the June 1984 Holocaust as valiant heroes of the Qaum (community) prayed for the Chardi Kala (high spirit) of the community.