The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) condemned the violence unleashed by the SAD (Amritsar) in the Darbar Sahab complex in Amritsar today and said such sacrilegious conduct amounted to dis respecting and nullifying the sacrifices of the martyrs.Referring to the violence unleashed by Amritsar Dal supporters and few other radicals after a function held to pay homage to the martyrs of Operation Blue Star at the Akal Takth today, SAD general secretary Maheshinder Singh Grewal said the manner in which supporters of the Amritsar Dal tried to use a religious function to revive themselves politically was condemnable.Terming the sacrilegious conduct of the radical group as an anti-Sikh act which only lowered the prestige of the Sikh community, the SAD appealed to Sikhs worldwide to maintain calm and assured them that the SAD would not allow anyone to play politics on bodies of the martyrs of Operation Blue Star.
Grewal said Operation Blue Star was a black spot in the history of Sikhism. “The entire community was deeply wounded and the operation has left a deep scar on the collective Sikh psyche. The anniversary of this ghastly occasion is commemorated every year and due care is taken to present a united Sikh face to the community as well as the world at large. However this year a political group which has been rejected by the people of Punjab deliberately instigated violence at the highest temporal seat of the community to gain cheap publicity as well as attempt to revive itself politically.”
The SAD leader said he was confident that the Sikh community would not be misled by such fanatic fringe elements who wanted to spread discord amongst community members as well as endanger the hard won peace of Punjab. He also appealed to the Punjab government led by chief minister Parkash Singh Badal to take appropriate action against any fringe elements bent on disturbing peace as well as dis respecting the martyrs with their sacrilegious actions. “I also congratulate the chief minister for ensuring peace and communal harmony in Amritsar despite attempts to disrupt the same”.Mr Grewal also appealed to all political parties and groups to maintain the sanctity of the Akal Takth as well as the entire Darbar Sahab complex. “We may have political differences with each other but we must not use our highest temporal seat to settle political scores”, he added.