Delhi gurdwaras to hail Indira Gandhi 's killers as martyrs?

[Spring Onion]

Delhi gurdwaras to hail Indira Gandhi 's killers as martyrs?


AMRITSAR: For the past 10 years, the Nanakshahi calendar of the ShiromaniGurdwaraParbandhak Committee (SGPC) - the largest representative body of the Sikhs - has marked a few 'historical days'. These days - which include the death anniversaries of the assassins of Indira Gandhi and former Army chief ArunVaidya as well as terrorist leaders like Bhindranwale - have been observed at the Golden Temple in Amritsar with akhand path and other ceremonies.

Now these controversial celebrations seem set to be held in Delhi too, as the new management of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) says it is not averse to observing these anniversaries."The SGPC is already observing these occasions. And if we are directed by the jathedar of the Akal Takht, we, too, will definitely hold these anniversaries. How can we say no to him?" says Manjit Singh, newly-elected president of the DSGMC, which is backed by the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal).

On his part, Giani Gurbachan Singh, jathedar of the Akal Takht - Sikhism's supreme temporal seat - when contacted, told TOI that "the anniversaries should be observed by Sikhs wherever they are living and that it was the duty of the community to remember its martyrs." When pointed out that the 'martyrs' were considered as terrorists and anti-national elements by many, the jathedar responsed, "People may call them terrorists but they are martyrs of our community."

The Nanakshahi calendar - with its controversial anniversaries - was adopted by SGPC in 2003. The brainchild of Canadian scholar Pal Singh Purewal, the calendar's 'historical days' section lists a number of 'martyrdom' days like that of Indira Gandhi's assassins Kehar Singh, Satwant Singh (January 6) and Beant Singh (October 31). The day separatist leaders Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and Amrik Singh were killed by the Army in Operation Bluestar is listed (June 6) and so is the death anniversary of Sukhdev Singh Sukha and Harjinder Singh Jinda (October 9) who killed Arun Vaidya, the Army chief when Operation Bluestar was conducted.
Avtar Singh Makkar, SGPC president, also gave his backing to the DSGMC observing these occasions. "DSGMC is an independent elected body; if they observe these anniversaries we will support them. After all these are the historical days prescribed in Nanakshahi calendar".

For almost a decade, DSGMC was controlled by the Delhi Akali Dal, which is backed by the Congress. This, say observers, explains why the question of observing these anniversaries was never even raised although SGPC was observing them in Amritsar. Things, though, look set to change in Delhi from this year on.Delhi gurdwaras to hail Indira Gandhi 's killers as martyrs? - The Times of India

 

[Jango]

A sign of extremist mentality setting in...things are not as rosy as they are portrayed. This could lead to a big rift b/w two communities if not handled properly.

 

[third eye]

History has it that whenever the throne of Delhi was weak the outlying provinces have either revolted or attempted to assert themselves.

Coalition Politics and posturing as a lead up to national elections next year.

 

[DARIUS]

Yes but the set of holidays accidentally failed to mention the death anniversary of Sardar Bhagat Singh and Sardar Anant Singh and other true Sikh martyrs!!What a joke thes politicians are making out of Khalsa!!

 

[Gandalf]

A sign of extremist mentality setting in...things are not as rosy as they are portrayed. This could lead to a big rift b/w two communities if not handled properly.

Nope In my community they were always honoured since day one even though I ain't a fan of them.
But if tytler can roam free so there's nothing wrong in it.

 

[Spring Onion]

Interesting for BJP as on the one hand it hails it and on the other hand they cant blame Congress for allowing gurdwaras for it

 

[Gandalf]

Interesting for BJP as on the one hand it hails it and on the other hand they cant blame Congress for allowing gurdwaras for it

Everybody knows they will suffer badly in 2014 elections in Punjab if they oppose it.
Sikhs are always ready to sacrifice their lives for their nations but they also want everybody to respect their martyrs.

 

[DARIUS]

@Gandalf is right to quite an extent.The fact that we as Indians failed to bring bastards like Jagdish Tytler to justice owing to domestic politics is the main reason that some Sikhs do endorse these sort of mind sets!!

 

[notsuperstitious]

Organised religion always has a dark side that emerges from their mob mentality and power politics. SGPC is no different. They have conveniently forgotten how bhindranwale was killing anyone who would not accept his dictats, just like some mullahs have forgotten how many muslims al qaida killed.

 

[SarkarRaj]

...............

It's Ok let them do it .....it not going to make difference ...except they can satisfy ego of few people ...so whats a big deal " Ignore it " very good policy of Indian government to avoid unnecessary controversy.

Today's fact ---99.99 % sikh don't share dream of Khalistan .....

 

[Bang Galore]

@Gandalf is right to quite an extent.The fact that we as Indians failed to bring bastards like Jagdish Tytler to justice owing to domestic politics is the main reason that some Sikhs do endorse these sort of mind sets!!

That is a vicious cycle. That argument can be used both ways.

 

[Azazel]

A sign of extremist mentality setting in...things are not as rosy as they are portrayed. This could lead to a big rift b/w two communities if not handled properly.

Which communities??Indira Gandhi and the actions of some members of Congress don't represent any community.

 

[notsuperstitious]

That is a vicious cycle. That argument can be used both ways.

Agreed, this is not rooted in justice, this is rooted in religion, like all terrorism apology is.

By linking this to religion SGPC and other assorted folk are making it difficult for young sikhs to look at this objectively. I see no difference between them and congress, who have their own gandhi religion - gandhi family and the gandhi note!

India is the loser!

 

[Abingdonboy]

Speaking from personal experience, I think if the GoI brought those who were responsible for the Anti-Sikh riots to justice the Sikh community would be much more willing to move forward and stop looking to the past. The only reason 1984 sticks in the minds of Sikhs (in my experience) is not even Op Bluestar, many Sikhs understand this (to an extent) and blame Bhindranwale for seeking refuge in the holiest Sikhi site, but it is the killings in Delhi and elsewhere as a result of the IG assassination.

The fact that this happened and those responsible for this atrocity are still roaming free, if not in political office, is just too bitter a pill to swallow and sticks in the minds of many Sikhs. If the GoI or BJP want to address this issue then they need to bring justice to those Indians that were butchered in the most horrific ways imaginable on the streets of their nation just for being a particular religion. I think this is not an unreasonable request, is it?




Having said that, there is no reason to think 99.99999999% of Sikhs are not 100% loyal to their nation. It is politicians that are politicsing this piece of news, the actions of the bodyguards had NOTHING to do with politics.

 

[notsuperstitious]

Speaking from personal experience, I think if the GoI brought those who were responsible for the Anti-Sikh riots to justice the Sikh community would be much more willing to move forward and stop looking to the past. The only reason 1984 sticks in the minds of Sikhs (in my experience) is not even Op Bluestar, many Sikhs understand this (to an extent) and blame Bhindranwale for seeking refuge in the holiest Sikhi site, but it is the killings in Delhi and elsewhere as a result of the IG assassination.

The fact that this happened and those responsible for this atrocity are still roaming free, if not in political office, is just too bitter a pill to swallow and sticks in the minds of many Sikhs. If the GoI or BJP want to address this issue then they need to bring justice to those Indians that were butchered in the most horrific ways imaginable on the streets of their nation just for being a particular religion. I think this is not an unreasonable request, is it?




Having said that, there is no reason to think 99.99999999% of Sikhs are not 100% loyal to their nation. It is politicians that are politicsing this piece of news, the actions of the bodyguards had NOTHING to do with politics.

Why General Vaidya's killers?

Why Bhindranwale?

If you think there there is no religious angle here, or that anyone's suggesting all sikhs support this, then you are wrong. While justice for 1984 is a genuine demand - nay right, linking this shyte to religion makes it impossible for young sikhs to take an objective look at the matter.