Amritsar, Jan 6 (IANS): Two assassins of prime minister Indira Gandhi were Sunday honoured by a senior Sikh clergyman to mark the 24th anniversary of their hanging.
The head of Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikh religion, honoured the kin of the assassins at the Golden Temple complex here.
Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh were hanged 24 years ago for gunning down Gandhi at her official residence, an event that led to large-scale anti-Sikh violence in parts of India.
While Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, who were in the security ring of Indira Gandhi, shot her down from close range Oct 31, 1984, Kehar Singh was linked to the murder conspiracy.
Beant Singh was shot dead by Indira Gandhi's security guards on the spot.
Indira Gandhi was assassinated for ordering the Indian Army into the Golden Temple complex in June 1984 to flush out heavily armed militants led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
The Akal Takht head, Gurbachan Singh, presented a 'siropa' (robe of honour) to Tirlok Singh, father of Satwant Singh, at a function.
Radical group Dal Khalsa leader Kanwarpal Singh said the Akal Takht chief accorded them the status of 'martyrs of faith'.
Top leaders of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which manages the Golden Temple and other major gurdwaras across Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, were not present on the occasion.
The SGPC courted controversy in October last year when it honoured the kin of two terrorists who had killed former Indian Army chief, General A.S. Vaidya.
The SGPC offered religious prayers and honoured the kin of Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) terrorists Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha at the Golden Temple complex.
The event was organised to observe the death anniversaries of these terrorists.
Jinda and Sukha had shot dead Gen. Vaidya in Pune in 1986 to seek revenge for "Operation Bluestar", as the Indian Army operation was known.
Jinda and Sukha were sentenced to death and hanged in 1992.
Lt. Gen. K.S. Brar, who led the army operation at the shrine, was attacked by a group of young men in London in September last year.
Comment on this article
Sachidanand Shetty, Mundkur/Dubai
Mon, Jan 07 2013This is the dangerous trend recently being followed by many religious associations. Though Congress is not having clean image now a day and they have to be blamed for present Indian scenario but killing an elected Prime Minister of India was and is heinous crime. There are many controversies regarding Sikh Massacre after Indira Gandhi assassination but it was collateral damage caused by emotional reaction of Congress and Prime Minister Supporters same like BJP and Modi supporters did in Gujarat after Godhra massacre. But the only difference between Sikh Massacre and Gujarat riot was Sikh were murdered without any resistance from Sikh Community whereas in Gujarat many Hindus lost their life due to resistance or retaliation from Muslim Community. Recently, in one of the Mosque in Kerala, prayers were held in the name of Kasab too. Though Kerala Government ordered an enquiry in to the incident but they can’t take strict action against that Mosque since Kerala Muslim League having few seats of MLA which support to Congress led Government with simple majority of just 2 to 4 seats only
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Bulsam, Mangalore
Sun, Jan 06 2013Punjab is going backward and the head of Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikh religion, honoured the kin of the assassins at the Golden Temple complex here. Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh were Namak Haraams.
I condemn this act because the head of Akal Takht is misusing religion for the political gain.
Please don’t mix religion with dirty politics and don’t encourage radicals and separatists. They will destroy the very Sikh community.
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KRPrabhu, Kudla/Bangalore
Sun, Jan 06 2013Hi,Yamby,Mangalore/Qutar I have not special love for BJP or Congreess either.But the way you describe the issue with relation to BJP clearly indicate that either you are blind or educated illiterate.You have not mentioned the 20th century's most heinous act of Sikh riot in 1984 at Delhi which took more than 2600 innocentlives of siks consisting women/children and the perpetrators were not punished by given clean chit.They are still wondering in Delhi now.Is this not a case more than building memorial just to gain power as you say.Shame on you for your educated illiterecy.
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Yamby, Mangalore / Qatar
Sun, Jan 06 2013Nothing surprising.
Punjab govt. built memorial to terrorist leader Bhindranwale where BJP is a ruling partner. So, it is not surprising. To gain power, even they will honor or build memorial to Kasab too!
It happens only in BJP!
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