From
SikhSangat News
http://www.sikhsangat.org/

Sikhs In India Rally for Justice and Freedom
June 6, 2006
http://www.sikhsangat.org/publish/article_1085.shtml

Slogans for Justice and a separate Sikh state were raised inside the Golden Temple complex to mark the 22nd anniversary Tuesday of Operation Bluestar, the June 1984 Indian Army assault on the Golden Temple Complex and 40 other Gurdwaras throughout Punjab.

The annual remembrance ceremony organized by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) at the Golden Temple Complex. Thousands of younger Sikhs took part in prayers and then upon completion at the end of the ceremony unsheathed their swords to symbolise the fight for freedom and independence of the Sikh faith and nation. Slogans of "Long live Khalistan" echoed around the Complex.

Joginder Singh Vedanti's failure to specifically mention the name of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale during his address allegedly offended the congregation.

Though the SGPC had promised a memorial inside the Golden Temple Complex almost two years ago, it has maintained a careful silence on the issue following vehement criticism from many quarters.

Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma, chief of the Damdami Taksal, also criticized the SGPC and other leaders for glossing over the "great sacrifices" of the militants who were killed combating the massacre at the hands of the Indian Army in June 1984.

He also offered to construct a Minar-e-Shaheedan commemorative column if the SGPC publicly acknowledged its incapacity to do so.

Addressing devotees after the official SGPC function, Sikh politician Simranjit Singh Mann reiterated his demand for the right of Self-Determination for Sikhs with the ultimate aim of an independent Sikh State of Khalistan.

Unmindful of the sedition cases instituted against him following a similar speech at the Bluestar anniversary last year, Mann insisted that 'azaadi' (independence)" was the right of the Sikhs and reiterated his demand for "Khalistan as an independent state between India and Pakistan".

Former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, preferred to keep a low profile and only spoke out briefly against the Congress party and its role in ordering the army into the Golden Temple.

The function ended with devotees taking copies of posters and calendars bearing images of rememberance of the destruction caused during Operation Bluestar, alongside portraits of Bhindranwale and Shabeg Singh, the former army major general who helped plan and build the militant defences before Operation Bluestar.

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This material is circulated by the Council of Khalistan, which is registered with the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Washington, DC under the Foreign Agents Registration Act as an agent of the Council of Khalistan, Golden Temple, Amritsar, Punjab. The material is filed with the DOJ where the required registration is available for inspection. Registration does not indicate approval of the contents by the U.S. Government.