SGPC organises event to commemorate attack on Sri Darbar Sahib on July 4, 1955

Sikhs always fought for the country, governments treated as strangers – Giani Harpreet Singh

Amritsar, July 5 (Punjab Post Bureau) – The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee organised an event at Gurdwara Sri Manji Sahib Diwan Hall to commemorate the attack on Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib on July 4, 1955 by the then government.

                 SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur while addressing from the stage of Gurdwara Manji Sahib said that This was the first attack on the central Sikh shrine Sri Darbar Sahib after the independence of the country, by the government of their own country which forgot all the promises made to the Sikhs, leaving deep wounds on the Sikh psyche the motive of this event is to make the Sikh youth aware of the story of atrocities perpetrated on the community.

              “Sikhs sacrificed 80 per cent of their lives for the independence of the country but the mere deployment of police force on the central shrine of Sikhs only after 8 years of independence was a manifestation of anti-Sikh mentality of the then Congress government. The then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Punjab Chief Minister Bhim Sen Sachar had tried to suppress the legitimate demands of the Sikhs, but the Sikh community always emerged victorious from the challenges”, said Bibi Jagir Kaur.

              She announced that a collection will be compiled after conducting thorough research on the attack in 1955 and photographs related to this attack would also be a part of it. “Efforts will be made to preserve memories by searching for the eyewitnesses of that time.

                  “Reneging on the promises made by the then government to the Sikhs after the independence of the country was similar to the breaking of promises and oaths made by the Pahadi Rajahs (hills kings) at Sri Anandpur Sahib to the tenth Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. But when the states were formed in India on the basis of language, justice was not done with Punjab. But to suppress the voice of Sikhs making legitimate demands, an attack was made on Sri Darbar Sahib”, said Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh.

                  “The police force was sent on the orders of the Nehru government, which inflicted heavy loss to the holiness. Shots were fired and hundreds of Sikhs were arrested”, said Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh.

                Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh said that the solution to any challenge is “Qaumi unity” (community’s unity) and the Sikhs in entirety should unite under the guardianship of Sri Akal Takht Sahib for the betterment of the “Qaum”.

                  It is notable that in the event, the teargas shells which were fired by the police inside Sri Darbar Sahib Complex were displayed on the stage of Gurdwara Manji Sahib.

                Additional head granthi Giani Jagtar Singh, granthi Giani Jaswant Singh, SGPC senior-vice president Surjit Singh Bhitewad, general secretary Bhagwant Singh Sialka, SGPC members Harjap Singh Sultanwind, Gurinderpal Singh Gora, Bhai Ram Singh, Gurnam Singh Jassal, Suwinder Singh Sabharwal, Tara Singh Salha, Bibi Joginder Kaur Bathinda, Bibi Joginder Kaur Dharamkot, Ratan Singh Jafferwal, additional secretary Sukhdev Singh Bhurakohna, OSDs to SGPC president Dr. Amrik Singh Latifpur, Dr Sukhbir Singh, manager Gurinder Singh Mathrewal, were present.