Attack on July 4, 1955 an expression of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru’s anti-Sikh mentality: S. Harjinder Singh
Sikhs made 80% sacrifices for country, but governments treated them as strangers: S. Harjinder Singh
Amritsar, July 4: The repeated repression of Sikhs in independent India, who made more than 80% of their sacrifices for the India’s independence, is manifestation of the anti-Sikh mentality of the governments, and under the same mentality, just after eight years of the independence, an unacceptable act of attack on Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib was committed by the government on July 4, 1955.
This was stated by President, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Advocate S. Harjinder Singh on Monday, while addressing the Samagam (congregation) organised at Gurdwara Sri Manji Sahib Diwan Hall, to commemorate the attack on July 4, 1955.
“The Sikhs gave their lives for the country but sadly Sikhs have always been treated as strangers in the country. This was also done in 1955 by the Prime Minister of the then Congress Government, Pandit Jawarhar Lal Nehru and Punjab Chief Minister Bhim Sen Sachar. By police attack on Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib led by DIG Mahasha Ashwani Kumar Sharma, they not only desecrated the Sikh shrine but also caused great loss to Sikhs”, said S. Harjinder Singh.
He said this picture of government repression is a clear manifestation of the oppression of Congress which the Sikh community can never forget.
SGPC President also expressed concern over the trend of deliberate defamation of Sikh institutions on social media and appealed to the Sikh community to take guidance from their history and work for the Charhdi Kala (rising spirit) of the Qaum (community/nation).
Addressing in the Samagam, SGPC General Secretary S. Karnail Singh Panjoli said that the Sikhs have always been subjected to excesses in India and when the states were formed on the basis of the language, a great struggled had to be fought for Punjabi Suba (state) at that time.
“To suppress this struggle, the attack was done on Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib under the government policy in 1955, which proved that the promises made to the Sikhs at the time of independence were meaningless”, said S. Karnail Singh.
“Even today, the era of injustice against Sikhs is continuing. The issues like of Panjab University, Bhakra Beas Management Board, Bandi Singh (Sikh prisoners), and Chandigarh, etc. are deliberately complicated and sometimes racial attacks are committed on Sikhs in the country”, said Karnail Singh Panjoli. He said the governments should never forget the sacrifices made by the Sikhs for the country and their rights should be upheld.
Before this, bhog (concluding ceremony) of Sri Akhand Path Sahib was held and groups of raagis and dhadis connected the Sangat with Gurbani Kirtan and history.
Those present on this occasion included Earlier, SGPC executive committee member S. Harjap Singh, S. Sarwan Singh, S. Balwinder Singh, member Bhai Rajinder Singh, S. Surjit Singh, S. Gurbachan Singh, S. Sher Singh, S. Gurmeet Singh, S. Charanjit Singh, S. Indermohan Singh, S. Baldev Singh, S. Bawa Singh, S. Amarjit Singh, Bhai Ajaib Singh, S. Sukhwarsh Singh, S. Khushwinder Singh, S. Kuldeep Singh, Baba Sukhwinder Singh Bhuriwale, Baba Dharamjit Singh Karseva Sarhaliwale, SGPC additional secretary S. Paramjit Singh, S. Partap Singh, S. Sukhminder Singh, assistant secretary media S. Kulwinder Singh, manager S. Sulakhan Singh Bhangali, assistant secretary S. Gurinder Singh, S. Nirvail Singh, S. Tejinder Singh, S. Gurcharan Singh, S. Paramjit Singh, superintendent Malkit Singh, manager Baghel Singh, and a large number of Sangat were present.