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Amritsar, June 2
Thirty-seven years after the Operation Bluestar, SGPC has decided to put on display the bullet-riddled “saroop” of Guru Granth Sahib, the gold-plated sheets of Golden Temple that were damaged during the Army attack in June 1984.
Besides this, the original ‘khu’ (well) known as ‘Akalsar’ associated during the era of Guru Hargobind Singh would also be made open for public view. This well too bore the brunt of the attack on its outer surface.
Visibly emotional, SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur said the devotees have got all rights to be apprised of the damage done to the epitome of spiritual blessings by the Army in 1984.
“I beg pardon of Sikh community that we got too late to take such a decision, yet the present executive decided that this should be placed in public domain for three days — on June 3, 4 and 5. Later on, a permanent arrangement would be made for their display,” she said.
The particular Guru Granth Sahib saroop, the bullet that was pierced through the cover and the ‘angs’ (pages of holy scripture) would be enshrined at Shaheed Baba Gurbax Singh Gurdwara located at the back of Akal Takht.
“This gurdwara had multiple entry-exit, so it would be convenient for the devotees to have a glimpse of the saroop. Besides this, a camera would be installed which would give live telecast transmitted on the two big screens that would be set up outside the gurdwara,” she said.
Similarly, some of the damaged gold-plated sheets would be placed at Bhaura Sahib, located at the base of Akal Takht.
Citing Akalsar ‘khu’ located behind Akal Takht, she told that it was equally important for the devotees to know about its significance.
“Thought came to my mind that if being president of SGPC for the fourth time, I never visited this most important ‘khu’, what to talk of a common visitors? It has been decided to make it accessible for all. This ‘khu’ made up of Nanakshahi bricks during Guru’s era, was the only source of water to be used for cleaning parikrama. Not all of the damaged gold sheets could be placed for want of proper arrangement, but their photographs would be displayed on the screen,” she said.
She told that soon ‘Shaheedi Gallery’ that was started in 2017 would be made operational in which a model of damaged Akal Takht would be displayed with minute detailing. Besides this, the other memorabilia of Operation Bluestar would be preserved and presented in digitised format for the public, the Khajana Gallery which had bullet marks has been kept ‘as it is’ and details about those who lost lives during the Army attack too would be procured.
