AMRITSAR SAHIB (June 3, 2014)—Dal Khalsa has given the call for “Amritsar shutdown” on 6 June to mark the 30th anniversary of the code-name Operation Bluestar army attack by the government of India in 1984 at Sri Darbar Sahib and Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
Addressing a press conference at the party office, Dal Khalsa leaders said the motive to give the call for Amritsar Band (shutdown demonstration) was to protest against the killings of hundreds of innocent pilgrims, the looting of invaluable holy books, scriptures, manuscripts, and artifacts from the Sikh Reference Library and to recall and relive the pain and agony of the heinous attack, as well as paying tribute to all martyrs and innocent persons killed in the dastardly inhuman action of the state.
They said since Amritsar was a battleground we had decided to give the call for Amritsar protest.
They urged the people to observe a peaceful band in order to send a strong, firm message to the government that the wounds of June 1984 genocidal attack still simmer and that the Sikhs can never forget. He clarified that the call for shutdown applies only to businesses and educational institutions and that there will be no halt of transportation.
Dal Khalsa leaders address press conference at Sri Amritsar.
They appealed to the non-Sikh population of Amritsar to share the pain of the community and express solidarity by closing their business premises. “It is time for the Hindu community to show that they are a friend of the Sikhs.”
Outlining the programs, they said that to commemorate the day, a Genocide Remembrance Parade would go around the streets of Amritsar, on the eve of the 30th anniversary on June 5.
They said the blood of innocent spilled on the sacred floor of Darbar Sahib cries for justice. No perpetrator has been held accountable for slaughtering hundreds of innocent pilgrims; no attempt has been made to address all territorial, economic, social, language, or cultural issues, and concerns for which the Sikh struggle was waged.
They said the government of the day vandalized and looted the invaluable religious scriptures and artifacts from Sikh Reference Library and had not returned any of the Sikh cultural heritage till date.
Elaborating further, party spokesperson reiterated that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has always asserted that the Congress party had carried out the heinous attack on Sikhs. However, the fact is that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asked for it, the Congress party carried out the attack, and the whole of India reveled in it. Subsequently, the BJP elevated Indira Gandhi to divinity status as a “Devi” for the destruction and desecration of Akal Takht Sahib.
“Today, Congress is out of power and the SAD is in power along with the BJP. It is time for the Badals to test the waters by seeking the return of artifacts, manuscripts, rare holy books, scriptures, and cultural heritage from the Modi sarkar (administration).
The call of Dal Khalsa receives support from many of Panthik organizations including Damdami Taksal (Mehta), and Shiromani Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani).