Amritsar, June 6: The 41st anniversary of Operation Bluestar was marked peacefully at the Akal Takht on Friday under tight security, with Sikh organisations participating in the solemn commemoration.
In a notable departure from tradition, Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargaj did not deliver an address to the Sikh community nor felicitate families of those killed during the 1984 Army operation — a move seen as a step to prevent confrontation among Sikh groups.
This is the first time since the Dal Khalsa began observing the anniversary in 1999 that the Jathedar abstained from both the address and the honours. The Akal Takht building, damaged during the operation, was rebuilt in 1998.
Instead, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami stepped in to felicitate the families. The gesture was well received by Panthic groups, including Damdami Taksal, whose chief Harnam Singh Dhuma had earlier opposed Gargaj taking the lead in the observance.
“I feel relieved,” Dhuma said while addressing mediapersons after attending the religious programme. He thanked Dhami for his role in maintaining Panthic harmony and said the move had “sent a positive message to Sikhs globally”.
The decision also defused tensions stirred by Ishar Singh and Indarjeet Singh, sons of slain militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who had openly criticised Gargaj’s possible involvement in leading the event.
The day remained incident-free, with police and security forces maintaining high alert across Amritsar and surrounding areas.
