Memorial row: Sikh clergy to meet today
Wednesday, 15/05/2013
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130515/punjab.htm#7
Amritsar : The Sikh clergy will meet here tomorrow to deliberate on the Operation Bluestar Memorial controversy that has brought the SGPC and the Damdami Taksal at loggerheads.
The Taksal had dedicated the memorial to Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale before handing over its management to the SGPC on April 27, the day the memorial was thrown open to devotees. The Taksal move was opposed by the SGPC.
Sources said the row was on the agenda of the Sikh priests. There are reports that the kin of those killed in Operation Bluestar have contended that the memorial be dedicated to all those killed in the Army operation and not a particular person.
On the other hand, the Taksal claims that they’ve named the memorial as per a resolution passed by the SGPC executive committee. Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa has already met Akal Takht chief Jathedar Gurbachan Singh and urged him to ensure that there is no “tampering” with the memorial and that the wall clock with Bhindranwale’s photograph be re-installed.
The Taksal’s move to dedicate the memorial to Bhindranwale has been opposed by the SAD’s alliance partner, BJP, as well as the Congress.
The SGPC had replaced the clock with Bhindranwale’s photograph, besides turning around the ‘golak’ inside the memorial with Bhindranwale’s name inscribed on it. There are still five sites where his name is engraved- two marble plaques atop the entrance of the memorial, two aluminum plaques on either side of the staircase leading to the memorial and a board mentioning the history of the Army operation on the left of the memorial entrance.
