The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday strongly condemned a march organized by five Sikh organizations to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the so-called 'Khalistan Declaration'. The party asserted that any effort to mislead the Sikh community and disturb the peace in Punjab under the guise of this declaration would be unsuccessful.
Procession and Reactions
The march proceeded from Burj Akali Baba Phoola Singh to the Golden Temple, drawing sharp criticism from the BJP. Sarchand Singh, the party's spokesperson for Punjab, accused certain Sikh leaders of invoking the Sarbat Khalsa congregation held on January 26, 1986, at the Akal Takht premises solely to further their political agendas.
Historical Context of Sarbat Khalsa
Singh elaborated that during the 1986 congregation, approximately 23 resolutions were passed. Among these was the reconstruction of the Akal Takht through 'kar sewa' (voluntary service) after it had been damaged during the Congress regime under former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He argued that if the Sarbat Khalsa had genuinely been linked to the creation of 'Khalistan', a specific resolution to that effect would have been adopted at that time.
The BJP's response underscores its firm stance against any separatist movements and its commitment to maintaining communal harmony and stability in Punjab. The party continues to monitor activities that it perceives as threats to the region's peace.
