Amritsar: A Shaheedi Samagam was held in memory of Shaheed Bhai Dilawar Singh at Akal Takht Sahib today.
Slamming the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) for its callous attitude towards Sikh sensibilities, the Dal Khalsa today hits out at the Gurdwaras management body for hurriedly and conspicuously concluding the Shaheedi Samagam of Bhai Dilawar Singh at Akal Takhat.
Notably, Dilawar Singh blew himself up to kill former CM Beant “Singh” on 31st August 1995 within the premises of Punjab secretariat in Chandigarh. His co-colleagues Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana is on death row and Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara is serving life sentence in Tihar jail.
Bhai Dilawar Singh’s brother Chamkaur Singh and other relatives with Dal Khalsa activists at Akal Takhat
To observe Dilawar Singh’s 21st death anniversary bhog of Akhand path was performed at Akal Takhat. Brother Chamkaur Singh and other relatives of Dilawar Singh attended the samagam, where they were honoured with a siropa by manager of the Darbar Sahib. Message of Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara was also read on the occasion.
Dal Khalsa head Harpal Singh Cheema and spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said the decision to accord martyr status on Dilawar Singh by the Akal Takhat on 23rd March 2012 was historic and significant in many ways. They, however, were critical of the ruling Akali party and its extension counter SGPC for showing insensibility and non-seriousness towards Sikh martyr and Sikh sensibility.
They alleged that in a deliberate attempt to pretend the Panthic personalities to pay tribute to the martyr, the SGPC pre-pone the bhog from 7.30 to 6.30 am. The space where bhog ceremony was performed was too small to accommodate the sangat. In the given space, half was occupied by task force and rest by plainclothes policemen. Even the family members of Dilawar Singh were not provided proper space to sit and they were very upset due to callous attitude shown by the SGPC, claimed both. One of the family member while talking with select media said, it looks the SGPC was least interested in observing the day and also they were scared of the Indian state.
Dal Khalsa leaders strongly objected to the presence of dozens of plain clothes policemen during the peaceful and religious function at Akal Takhat. They (police personal) had no business to be present there. It was an attempt by the ruling party to instil fear psychosis in the minds of the sangat.
They said in view of Bhai Dilawar Singh’s sacrifice to avenge the violations of human rights of Sikhs, his portrait should be installed along with other martyrs of the recent Sikh struggle. They said for some obvious reasons, the SGPC has cold shoulder this demand made by Panthic groups from last two years.
Prominent among those who were present includes Baldev Singh Sirsa, Sarbjit Singh Ghuman, Nobeljit Singh and Gurmeet Singh.