Lahore tribute: Sikhs remember victims of Golden Temple raid
Stage protest, hold demonstration to raise awareness about massacre
Sikh children march in protest to the 1984 Indian Army attack on the Golden Temple. PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE:
Members of the Sikh community descended on Lahore from all parts of the country on Saturday to pay tribute to the victims of Operation Blue Star that was launched by the Indian government in 1984. The raid on Golden Temple left about 500 Sikhs dead and many others injured.
About 300 Sikhs, including children and women, assembled in Nankana Sahib from different parts of the country and reached Lahore together to mark the attack on Harmandir Sahib Complex popularly known as Golden Temple by the Indian forces.
They staged a sit in at Charing Cross (now renamed Faisal Square) where they had lunch. They were carrying placards inscribed slogans like never forget, never forgive and no more genocide of Sikhs of India.
They were chanting slogans in favour of Pakistan and against the Indian government. A delegation of Pakistan Sikh Gurdawara Parbandak Committee (PSGPC) handed over a memorandum to Punjab minorities minister Tahir Khalil Sindhu on the commemoration.
Speaking on the occasion, PSGPC Secretary General Gopaal Singh said they are proud of being Pakistanis. He said there are 350 Sikh Gurdwaras in Pakistan and all are in control of PSGPC.
Gopaal Singh condemned the Indian government over Operation Blue Star and said they would take revenge for it at any cost. Later, the demonstrators marched to Alhamra Hall where they had planned a performance to depict the operation.
Operation Blue Star
The Indian military operation which occurred between 3 and 8 June 1984, on the orders of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi against Sikhs in order to establish control over the Harmandir Sahib Complex in Amritsar, Punjab, and remove Jarnail Singh Bhindranwala and his armed followers from the complex buildings. Bhindranwala, a secessionist leader, calling for the establishment of Khalistan, had earlier taken up residence in Harmandir Sahib and made it his headquarters in April 1980.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 7th, 2015.
Members of the Sikh community descended on Lahore from all parts of the country on Saturday to pay tribute to the victims of Operation Blue Star that was launched by the Indian government in 1984. The raid on Golden Temple left about 500 Sikhs dead and many others injured.
About 300 Sikhs, including children and women, assembled in Nankana Sahib from different parts of the country and reached Lahore together to mark the attack on Harmandir Sahib Complex popularly known as Golden Temple by the Indian forces.
They staged a sit in at Charing Cross (now renamed Faisal Square) where they had lunch. They were carrying placards inscribed slogans like never forget, never forgive and no more genocide of Sikhs of India.
They were chanting slogans in favour of Pakistan and against the Indian government. A delegation of Pakistan Sikh Gurdawara Parbandak Committee (PSGPC) handed over a memorandum to Punjab minorities minister Tahir Khalil Sindhu on the commemoration.
Speaking on the occasion, PSGPC Secretary General Gopaal Singh said they are proud of being Pakistanis. He said there are 350 Sikh Gurdwaras in Pakistan and all are in control of PSGPC.
Gopaal Singh condemned the Indian government over Operation Blue Star and said they would take revenge for it at any cost. Later, the demonstrators marched to Alhamra Hall where they had planned a performance to depict the operation.
Operation Blue Star
The Indian military operation which occurred between 3 and 8 June 1984, on the orders of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi against Sikhs in order to establish control over the Harmandir Sahib Complex in Amritsar, Punjab, and remove Jarnail Singh Bhindranwala and his armed followers from the complex buildings. Bhindranwala, a secessionist leader, calling for the establishment of Khalistan, had earlier taken up residence in Harmandir Sahib and made it his headquarters in April 1980.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 7th, 2015.