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June Saka: Sewa in the line of fire
A historic
interview after Saka Akal Takht Sahib ji
Harbir Singh Bhanwer
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Singh Sahib Giani
Sahib Singh, the head Granthi of Sri Darbar Sahib, had his
residence in Shaheed Bunga Street on the back side of Sri Darbar
Sahib. Indian forces had initiated their attack on Sri Darbar
Sahib at 4:45am on the morning of June 4. Under the battle
conditions and intense exchange of fire, Singh Sahib fulfilled
his duties on June 5 until noon. However, on June 6 he was not
allowed to reach Harmandir Sahib for his duties. Other Giani
Sahibans, including Giani Mohan Singh Ji and Giani Puran Singh
Ji, were forced to remain inside, even after the completion of
their regular duties on June 5 evening. They simply could not
leave the premises. Following is an excerpt from an interview by
BBC Journalist Harbir Singh Bhanwer with Singh Sahib Giani Sahib
Singh. |
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 HARBIR SINGH: When
were you able to first return to Sri Darbar Sahib after Operation
Bluestar and what were the conditions as you saw them?
SINGH SAHIB: Giani
Mohan Singh Ji and Giani Puran Singh Ji, accompanied by some
soldiers, reached my house around 5am of June 7.
They informed me that General Sahib had summoned for me and
instructed me to get ready in 15 mins. and accompany them. I left
escorted by the soldiers. The Atta Mandi, Katdha Dal Singh and back
anteroom (Deodhi) of Sri Darbar Sahib was full of soldiers. There
were thousands of soldiers everywhere. We were stopped at every
place and questioned, "who is he? kill him." Soldiers escorting me
responded, "he is the head priest." Upon reaching the Darbar Sahib
complex, inside I saw Sikhs seated all over the parkarma with their
hand tied behind their backs with their own turbans. Among them were
the Gurdwara employees. Giani Sujan Singh, Sant Bhindrawale's helper
and SGPC member, was among the detained Sikhs. At the foot-steps of
the parkarma, we were met by an arrogant Sikh Colonel. When the
accompanying soldiers informed him about me, he promptly ordered "if
he is the head Granthi, bring him inside." Parkarma had 6-7 tanks.
Dead bodies were
everywhere. I inquired from the Sikh Colonel if I could meet with
the detained Sikhs. He replied that his orders are against it.
However, when I informed him that our own staff was among the
detained, he suggested that I could watch but not speak with them.
He further emphasized that if I talked with anyone, I will be
killed. Baba Deep Singh Ji Shaheed's Bunga was full of detained
Sikhs. As they saw me, they started crying. Some requested if I
could seek permission for them to drink water from the sarowar. Who
so ever spoke was mercilessly beaten by soldiers with gun-butts and
subjected to derogatory verbal abuse saying, "Sala asks for water!"
I informed the Sikh Colonel that GurSikhs regularly organize "Shabeels"
to gratuitously distribute water, and requested permission to
distribute water among the detained Sikhs. Indian forces could be
seem in all buildings of Sri Darbar Sahib. Reference library was
burning at this moment. The whole parkarma was in bad shape with
blood, red ammunition shells, and broken glass. There was no place
to put your foot down. The soldiers accompanying me suggested that I
wear my shoes. However, I refused and proceeded bare-foot. At the
Shabeel corner someone fired at me. Fortunately, I escaped.
Now the soldiers
escorting me were yelling "He is the head priest" but no one was
listening to anyone. I was shoot at once again near the Lachi Baer
Gurdwara. This bullet missed and hit the floor near me. Near Lachi
Baer Gurdwara, Sri Akal Takhat's courtyard was filled with dead
bodies. Soldiers were everywhere. The Darshani (Deodhi) anteroom,
Janda Bunga, New anteroom, everywhere soldiers were positioned with
entrenched machine guns and LMGs. The historical Lachi Baer tree was
badly brutalized. The nearby room for Palki Sahib was badly littered
with scattered rumalas. With a deeply saddened heart and great
difficulty, I reach thus far. The Darshani (Deodhi) anteroom was
full of drunken soldiers who were smoking cigarettes. When these
soldiers saw me, they started hurling derogatory verbal abuses at
me, "who is this Sala?" Almost all soldiers were abusive. They
couldn't utter any words without using derogatory terms. From the
doorsill till the bridge, the Darshani anteroom was filled with
rubbish. The bridge was heavily guarded with armed soldiers. Sri
Harimandir Sahib was also heavily guarded. The situation inside Sri
Harimandir Sahib wasn't any better. The carpets used for June 5
could not be replaced on June 6.
Ammunition shells and
broken glass littered the insides as well.
There were 6-7 Sikh
soldiers including a granthi and two Colonels when I reached inside.
They informed me that General Sahib had left after a long wait for
me. They instructed me to conduct Sri Guru Granth Sahib's Prakash
and initiate kirtan and other services. By now I had been informed
by other Singh Sahibans that the sacred copy of Sri Guru Granth
Sahib had been hit by a bullet.
HARBIR SINGH: The
sacred copy of Sri Guru Granth Sahib that was hit by a bullet, was
that in use in the main hall or on the first story?
SINGH SAHIB: This
copy was in prakash in Sri Harimandir Sahib. At Har-Ki-Pauri a Sikh
was reading from Guru Granth Sahib, when a bullet hit a window and
broke its glass. A piece of that glass cut the Pathi Sikh's hand. It is
this Sikh's blood that you find on the rumalas.
The Central Reserve
Police Force (CRPF) had previously riddled Sri Darbar Sahib with
bullets from all corners on June 1. The next day, June 2, wasn't any
better either. In consultation with Tohra Sahib, on the morning of
June 4, all Akhand Paths were concluded and all sacred copies of Sri
Guru Granth Sahib were moved in safekeeping after their 'sukhasan'.
However, the Akhand Path at Har Ki Paudi was allowed to continue and
completed on the morning of June 6. Because of the curfew imposed by
the Indian forces, our employees could not reach Sri Darbar Sahib to
assume their duties. As a result most pathis had to recite Path for
8-10 hrs. continuous.
HARBIR SINGH: When
was Sri Guru Granth Sahib's Prakash conducted?
SINGH SAHIB: First of all we cleaned the insides of Sri Harimandir
Sahib. The Sikh soldiers helped me with this task. Sukhasan of the
sacred copy of Sri Guru Granth Sahib that was hit by a bullet was
conducted next. Then the Sri Guru Granth Sahib copy was brought from
Lachi Baer Gurdwara and the prakash was accomplished around 10am.
There was no Kadha
Prakash served. A Sikh Subedar brought some sweet-meat prepared from
sugar (Patasae) from somewhere, that was served instead.
HARBIR SINGH: Then
which Shabad's kirtan was initiated?
SINGH SAHIB: When the
two Colonels inside Sri Harimandir Sahib, Shamindar Singh and
Sharma, asked me to organize shabad kirtan, I expressed the need for
a significant staff to conduct such program.
They asked me in
return where to get the required staff. Upon which I informed them
of the Gurdwara employees among the detained Sikhs outside and asked
for their release. They agreed to my suggestion and escorted me to
where the Sikhs were detained. As I pointed out our staff members
and their hands were sniffed.
HARBIR SINGH:
(Astonished) Why did they sniff their hands?
SINGH SAHIB: I didn't
know either. Apparently, the hands used in firing guns can be
identified through smell. It can also be identified from the
fingers. Based on my request 15 Sikhs were released. The rest were
considered prisoners and sent to camps. Among the released were
Hajuri Ragi Mohinder Singh's tabla companion Bhai Gurcharan Singh
(who could perform kirtan as well), Surma Singh Karamjeet Singh who
could play tabla, and Sant Bhindrawale's Ragi Bhai Harbhajan Singh.
For several days these individuals conducted the kirtan. The
information regarding kirtan being performed by military personnel
in your diary is inaccurate.
HARBIR SINGH: Who did
the Ardas?
SINGH SAHIB: This too
was done by Sri Darbar Sahib's Ardassia Bhai Harpal Singh. All these
individuals stayed in my house for several days. Upon seeking their
release I took them to my house. Several of them had blood stains on
their cloths. They bathed and washed their clothes. Several of them
had to use my clothes.
HARBIR SINGH: Shabad kirtan started being relayed on radio from June
8, who organized this program?
SINGH SAHIB: The
radio and electricity workers arrived on June 7. They installed the
necessary wires, etc. Military personnel brought a loudspeaker from
some Hindu individual. We returned it afterwards.
HARBIR SINGH: When
were the dead bodies removed?
SINGH SAHIB: Giani
Zail Singh was to arrive on June 8. So the Indian force removed all
dead bodies from the parkarma path from Ghanta Ghar anteroom towards
Baba Budha's Baeri tree. But the bodies were left elsewhere. Even
the sarowar had 10-12 floating bodies. I witnessed on June 7 that a
Sikh ran out from a room along the parkarma and jumped into the
sarowar. The soldiers immediately opened fire and killed him in the
sarowar itself.
HARBIR SINGH: Did you
learn anything about Sant Bhindrawale?
SINGH SAHIB: We
learned on June 7 that his dead body was displayed in the Ghanta
Ghar's anteroom. However, we weren't allowed to go there.
HARBIR SINGH: Tell us
about Giani Zail Singh's visit?
SINGH SAHIB: On the
day of Giani Zail Singh's visit, some soldiers took me towards the
Langar building. All stories of this building were filled with
soldiers. Dogra regiment was stationed here. Colonel Bajwa and one
other Colonel informed me that some Sikhs were holed in Ramgharia
Bunga. They had taken one Captain Doctor hostage.
Furthermore, these Sikhs had conveyed that if 5 Singh Sahibans asked
them to drop their weapons they will comply. Giani Puran Singh was
with me. As we approached the bunga, we saw two GurSikhs seated with
their backs tied to each other in front of the Bunga. We asked the
Colonels that if the Sikhs drop their weapons would they not shoot
them? They promised that if these Sikhs haven't killed any of their
men, they will be spared. Within the Ramgharia Bunga, approaching
from Baba Kharak Singh's Dera side we spoke with the Sikhs over a
small loudspeaker. We told them that "if you have any military
hostages, release them and come out, you will not be killed." We
could hear some noises but couldn't understand what was being said.
Finally we heard that
they did not have any hostages. Upon hearing this the Colonel asked
us to leave and said they will handle it from here. Giani Zail
Singh's arrival was fast approaching.
HARBIR SINGH: Was firing ongoing when Giani Zail Singh arrived?
SINGH SAHIB: Firing
was continuously ongoing here at one place or another. However, your
report that a security personal of Giani Zail Singh's escort was
shot is inaccurate. When Giani Zail Singh arrived, one of his escort
had an umbrella covering him. I sent a sewadar and asked for the
removal of the umbrella. They obliged. Giani Zail Singh paid respect
upon reaching Harimandir Sahib. The question of honoring him with
saropa simply did not arise. He asked some officer to contact me.
Upon meeting, Giani Zail Singh first inquired about the Jathedar of
Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, Giani Kirpal Singh. I told him that he was
safe. Then he asked about the attack. I summarized the events.
Further I told him that the soldiers were moving around with naked
heads, with boots, and continuously drinking and smoking within the
premises. Their behavior was inappropriate and derogatory.
Whenever they see a
Sikh, they kill him without asking any question.
Hundreds of Sikhs
have been killed this way. Additionally, the sacred places are being
abused by them. They have done worst things than the mughals. How
could all this happen under a Sikh President? Giani Zail Singh told
me that Shrimati Ghandi did not tell him anything. He said that he
wanted to visit on June 7 but couldn't. He said, "even today I have
managed to come after great difficulty." I told Giani Zail Singh
that the soldiers misbehaved with me and my staff. They make our job
difficult. Why not arrest us too? He immediately ordered the four
generals, Sundar Ji, Dayal, Baradh and Jamwaal to provide security.
I further explained that the soldiers have looted the homes of our
staff including Giani Sahibans. Giani Mohan Singh has been badly
beaten, arrested and taken away. They wanted to burn the markets
behind Sri Darbar Sahib complex. I later learned that the military
had planned to burn the whole street around my house and the Kolsar
Bazar. They were saved by Giani Zail Singh. Giani Zail Singh saw the
sacred copy of Guru Granth Sahib that was injured with a bullet. He
had also witnessed the state inside Sri Harimandir Sahib.
Thus upon reaching
Delhi, he immediately sent a package of Rumalas. I thought even
though Giani Zail Singh is a Sikh, the rumalas are government
property and therefore did not use them.
HARBIR SINGH: Sardar
Bhan Singh and Sardar Abinashi Singh were brought from camps by
soldiers for Sri Darbar Sahib's visit, when were they brought for
the first time?
SINGH SAHIB: Probably
they were brought on June 8. Interior Minister, Butta Singh, first
arrived here on June 9. subsequently he visited everyday. On June 9,
I, Giani Kirpal Singh Ji, Sardar Bhan Singh, Sardar Abinashi Singh
met with Butta Singh inside Sri Harimandir Sahib and exchanged views
about various processes. Subsequently, committees were organized to
take care of treasury (Tosha Khana), Museum, and Historical weapons
and slowly the processes started improving. I had informed the
military on June 7 itself that five Singh Sahibans will collectively
make all decisions and take any actions. However, the Jathedar of
Sri Akal Takhat is the supreme authority. He individually can take
any decision. Until June 16, all Singh Sahibans had gathered
together.
HARBIR SINGH: Your
interview on Doordarshan, was that given of your free will or under
the pressure of military guns?
SINGH SAHIB: Punjab
situation was dangerous at that moment. Giani Kirpal Singh had
already read his views on TV. Whatever I said was done in
consultation with our organizers, Sardar Bhan Singh and Sardar
Abinashi Singh, etc. This was done to normalize the situation.
However, all
statements were checked and approved by the military authorities.
They were constantly saying that there is nothing here, write more
statements.
HARBIR SINGH: When
was the sacred maryada of Sri Harimandir Sahib restored?
SINGH SAHIB:
September 29, the complex was handed over to us. The interrupted
maryada was restored from Oct. 1 onwards. (The first Akhand Path at
Har-Ki-Paudi was initiated for Giani Sahib Singh Ji).
11
June,
2008
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