Kar Sewa begins to create Operation Blue Star memorial

Amritsar, May 20 (ANI): After a gap of over a quarter century, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) has laid the foundation stone for a memorial to be built for victims of Operation Blue Star, at the Golden Temple.

Akal Takht Jathedar Gianai Gurbachan Singh and four Jatherdars laid the foundation stone for the memorial.

The premier Sikh body had, on Friday, started preparations for the Kar Sewa to erect the memorial.

A large number of Sikh devotees and heads of various Sikh organisations converged in the Golden Temple complex on Sunday to participate in the Kar Sewa.

Speaking to media, Avtar Singh Makkar, SGPC president, said the community has been waiting to build the memorial and added that the structure wouldn't pose any threat to the ambience of the Golden Temple.

Last week, the five-member committee constituted by the SGPC, proposed to construct the memorial in the Golden Temple premises. It has taken the SGPC 28 years to decide on the venue.

The SGPC has given the Kar Sewa to Harnam Singh Khalsa, the chief of the 'Dam Dami Taksal', a decision opposed by the Shiromani Akali Dal.

Dam Dami Taksal was earlier headed by Jarnail Singh Bhindrawala.

Operation Blue Star was a military offensive carried out by the Indian Army from June 3 to 6, 1984.very year on June 6, Sikhs observe the anniversary in memory of those killed during the operation. By Ravinder Singh Robin (ANI)