AMRITSAR: Giani Harpreet Singh, Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, said in his address that the governments of the time had always tried to suppress the Sikhs and it was in this context that the July 4, 1955 massacre was carried out.
He was addressing the function was organized by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee at Gurdwara Sri Manji Sahib Diwan Hall on July 4, 1955 to commemorate the attack on Sri Harmandir Sahib by the then government here on Sunday.
He said that reneging on the promises made by the then government to the Sikhs after the independence of the country was just like breaking the promises made by the hill kings at Sri Anandpur Sahib with the Tenth Patshah Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. But when states were formed in India on the basis of language, it did not do justice to Punjab. Against this, the Sikhs attacked the Golden Temple to stifle the voice of legitimate demands.
The bullets which were thrown by the police force at the Golden Temple and the Sikhs during the attack were also displayed to show the sangat.
A police force was sent on the orders of the Nehru government, which inflicted heavy casualties on the shrine. Shots were fired and hundreds of Sikhs were arrested.
Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh said that Sikhs were always fighting for the betterment of the country and the governments treated them as strangers.
He said that the unity of the Sikh community was the only way out of the challenges which was exemplified in history.
Giani Harpreet Singh said that the governments wanted the Sikhs to never come together and there was no question of political agenda of the Sikhs even from the Akal Takht. But these great institutions have always led the nation and will continue to do so.
"The solution to any challenge was national unity and the Sikh community should unite under the auspices of Sri Akal Takht Sahib for the betterment of the nation", he added.
He commended the President of the SGPC Jagir Kaur for commemorating the first attack on the Golden Temple in independent India and said that the decision taken to find out its history was a matter of time.
Additional Head Granthi Singh Sahib Giani Jagtar Singh, Singh Sahib Giani Jaswant Singh, Senior Vice President of the Shiromani Committee Sh. Surjit Singh Bhitewad, General Secretary Bhagwant Singh Sialka, Shiromani Committee Member Harjap Singh Sultanwind, S. Gurinderpal Singh Gora, Bhai Ram Singh, S. Gurnam Singh Jassal, S. Suwinder Singh
As per the decision taken by SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur, this was the first time that a special function was held in connection with the incident. The attack was carried out by the then government in 1955 to suppress the Sikhs' demand for a Punjabi state on the basis of language.
It may be recalled that during today's function, the bullets which were thrown by the police force at the Golden Temple and the Sikhs during the attack were also displayed to show the sangat.
Additional Head Granthi Giani Jagtar Singh, Singh Sahib Giani Jaswant Singh, Senior Vice President of the SGPC Surjit Singh Bhitewad, General Secretary Bhagwant Singh Sialka, Member Harjap Singh Sultanwind, other members SGPC and large number of devotees were present.