Significantly, Jathedar of the Takht Damdama Sahib Balwant Singh Nandgarh accorded the status of martyr to Beant Singh and observed that his sacrifice was in accordance with the greatest Sikh traditions.
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Jathedar Nandgarh honoured Bibi Amrit Kaur daughter of Shaheed Beant Singh by presenting her with siropa (robe of honour) and shawl. Mr Amrik Singh, the father of Avtar Singh Gola who was shot dead by cat turned police inspector Gumit Singh Pinki 5 years ago, was also honoured by the organizers.
Jathedar Nandgarh equated the sacrifice of Beant Singh with those of martyrs who had restored the honour of the Sikhs in history. He said Beant Singh embraced martyrdom to avenge the desecration of Sikh religious places.
A large number of political activists representing different factions and groups participated in the convention held to pay tributes to Beant Singh, who was shot dead by security guards of the slain PM minutes after he assassinated Mrs Gandhi at her residence on this day 22 years ago.
The resolution was adopted stating that Beant Singh has attained the status of a ‘martyr’ as per Sikh tradition and concept of ‘martyrdom’. His name will always shine in the galaxy of martyrs that are remembered by all Sikhs in their daily prayer (Ardas).
Eulogizing the sacrifice of Beant Singh, the party president Satnam Singh Paonta sahib said it was not in the Sikh temperament to give in to repression. He said Mrs Gandhi committed a sin by ordering the army to storm Darbar Sahib in June 1984.
While speaking on the occasion, the former president of the organization H S Dhami said his party (Dal Khalsa) would always place community’s interest first. "Sikh interest and principles are supreme. There cannot be any compromise on that. We will try to protect national interest of Sikhs to the utmost”.
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Expressing solidarity with family members of deceased Avtar Singh, SGPC member Karnail Singh Panjoli said Pinki remained the darling of the police machinery and enjoyed patronage of higher-ups despite his criminal background. He referred the case of ADGP Thind who has been suspended by the HP government after he was arrested in a case and explained that despite Pinki’s conviction by the Haryana court in a murder case, the police department and the Punjab government has utterly fail to dismiss him from the services. The saddest part is that he is still a police officer and the claims of the police chief that they had not received any court order holds no water.
General Secretary Kanwar Pal Singh said a glorious future awaited the
community and all that was required was to make the Sikhs realize that
they were a sovereign people who had established their sovereign rule in
history. They must raise their self-esteem and take pride in their culture,
heritage and language.
Jaspal Singh Dhillon vice-president called upon the Punjabis to face
demographic threat posed by influx of migrants unitedly. If we fail to
take up the challenge we would be reduced to a hapless minority in our own
native homeland.
Referring to Kathunangal clash in which henchmen of SAD (Badal) had
manhandled Simranjit Singh Mann and his supporters, Khalsa Panchayat chairman
Rajinder Singh said “Badal and his coterie had initiated an internecine feud
within the community. Taking a dig at present leadership, he said they were
devoid of ideology and ideas. Giving a clarion call to Sikhs to participate
in the on-going struggle to cleanse the Sikh institutions from all
wrongdoings, he said “we must reject those who had betrayed the Sikh Panth
for their petty interests”.
Dal Khalsa coordinator Ajit Singh Pannu from USA specially reached Punjab to
attend the function.
The others who paid tributes to Beant Singh include Dr Manjinder Singh &
veteran Akali leader Jagjit Singh Gaba.
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