Amritsar, Punjab (May 15, 2013): The Dal Khalsa has submitted a memorandum requesting Jathedar Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh to resolve the memorial row keeping collective will of the community and historical traditions in mind in the meeting of the high priests.
Organization’s spokesman Kanwar Pal Singh also made an appeal to Jathedar to issue stern warning to outside forces including the BJP against interfering in the internal matters of the Sikh Panth. The memo also urged the Jathedar to snub the Punjab government in influencing the decisions of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.
According to the memo, Dal Khalsa blamed SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar for creating the controversy through his unnecessary, insensible and ridiculous statements. The memo appreciated Damdami Taksal head Baba Harnam Singh for doing a good job. “Baba Harnam Singh performed in the job in the light of the SGPC resolution no 1474 dated 3 May 2012” that names the memorial after Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and other martyrs.
The organization alleged that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badals and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal under threat from Delhi rulers and the BJP were hell bent to uproot the history board and signboards on which names of martyrs have been inscribed. Justifying the raising of the martyrs memorial after the name of Sant Jarnail Singh, the memo reminded the Jathedars’ that within the Darbar Sahib precincts Gurdwaras after the name of Baba Deep Singh and Baba Gurbakash Singh had already been built.
He questioned, why objection on the name of Sant Jarnail Singh, as he too along with scores of his colleagues sacrificed his life at the altar of religious cause while defending the sanctity of Darbar Sahib like both the above mentioned historical warriors. It was also reminded that Sant Jarnail Singh was accorded the status of a martyr by Akal Takht and SGPC in June 2003.