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The Shaheedi of

Guru Arjan Dev Ji

&

The Events of June 1984

GURU ARJAN DEV JI

Prakash - 15 April, 1563

Father Guru Ramdas Ji, Mother Mata Bhani Ji

Married to Mata Ganga Ji

Gurgaddi 1 September 1581

Completed Ramdas Sarovar and started

Harmandir Sahib

Compiled Adi Granth, scribed by Bhai Gurdas Ji

Prakash of Adi Granth in Harmandir Sahib in 1661

and assigned Baba Budda ji as first Granthi

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GURU ARJAN DEV JI

Son – Guru Hargobind Ji born 9 June 1595

Upon sangat’s request, rejected request to

marry Guru Hargobind ji to Chandu’s

daughter

Chandu was Wazir of Jahingir, and

complained to Jahangir

Jahangir summoned Guru Arjan Dev Ji to

Lahore and told him to change baani,

accept Islam or be ready to die

Upon Guru’s refusal, Jahangir ordered

Guru Sahib on Red Hot Plate, poured hot

sand and made Guru Sahib Shaheed on 25

May 1606 3

30 YEARS SINCE GENOCIDE

Large scale Genocide of Sikhs

Mass murder by Military June 1984

Genocide of November 1984

Intense propaganda and

disinformation campaign to hide the

truth

Perpetrators of crimes enjoying the

high life, while the victims families

forever bear the pain

No justice, continued risk for

minorities 4

BRIEF BACKGROUND

Sikh Panth – An Independent Nation

Khalsa Raaj – Misls to Maharaja Ranjit

Singh

Annexation by British – 1849

Major contributions by the Sikhs in

Independence of the Indian Sub-continent

against the British (1947)

Partition of Panjab

Broken Promises - 1947 to 1984

June 1984 Attack on the Sikh Nation

Eyewitness Account Video

(www.ensaaf.org) 5

QUESTIONS TO ASK!

What were the reasons?

Was this Pre-planned or Last Minute?

Why was Baba Jarnail Singh staying in Akal

Takht? Why were there Weapons?

Why not Kill or Arrest SJSB?

Why June 1st ?

What happened?

What do we learn?

Sarbat Khalsa

Self-Determination

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WHAT WERE THE REASONS?

Broken Promises Panjab divided into India and Pakistan

Indian Constitution Inequality – rejected by Sirdar Kapur Singh

Panjabi Speaking State / Panjabi Suba Movement

River waters sharing

Sikh Identity

Lack of rights for Indigenous people of Panjab

Emergency by Indira ‘77– Strong Sikh Opposition

Vaisakhi of 1978 Propaganda of insulting Sikhs and Guru Granth Sahib

Murder of 13 Sikhs by Nirankaris

Anandpur Resolution Greater Autonomy of all States and preserving the Sikh Identity

Sikh Movement Led by Baba Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale

Sikhs were always a threat to Indira because they always stood up for their rights and against the Government Atrocities

Designed to Teach Sikhs A Lesson

Know your place in India and accept it / break our spirits

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BROKEN PROMISES

PRE-INDEPENDENCE

“No Constitution would be acceptable to the Congress which did not satisfy the sikhs.” (Collected works of M K Gandhi Vol.58. p. 192)

“The brave Sikhs of Panjab are entitled to special consideration. I see nothing wrong in an area and a set up in the North wherein the Sikhs can also experience the glow of freedom. (Jawaharlal Nehru, Congress meeting: Calcutta – July, 1944)

POST-INDEPENDENCE

“The Sikhs as a community are a lawless people and are a menace to the law abiding Hindus in the provice. The deputy commissioner should take speacial measures against them” (Chandu Lal Trivedi, Gov of Panjab, October 1947)

Indian constitution adopted in 1949 – no autonomous Sikh State, rather in article 25 declares Sikhs as Hindus, creates regressive and discriminative policies based on caste system – rejected by the Sikhs

“Times have changed” – Nehru (1950)

“To preserve the Unity of India, if we have to eliminate 2 Crore Sikhs, we will do so” (Balram Jhakar, Cabinet of PM Narsimharao)

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PRE-PLANNED VS LAST MINUTE?

Sikh Movement / Dharam Yudh Morcha led by Baba Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale

Jathedaar of Damdami Taksal

Preached Sikhi

Got people to stop using intoxicants and other vices

Strongly opposed Indira’s agenda against the Sikhs

Moved into Akal Takht around 6 months before Bluestar

Gen. RK Sinha / Gen. Vaidya/ Gen. Brar Sinha opposed Indira’s plan to attack, he was sacked

Vaidya and Brar led the Military Operation

Brar’s Grandfather got Kartar Singh Sarabha arrested and hanged

1982 Model in Doon Valley

UK & SAS advice Feb 1984, and possible involvement of other Foreign agencies 9

WHY WAS BABA JARNAIL SINGH IN AKAL

TAKHT? AND WHY WERE THERE WEAPONS?

Akal Takht – Political/Military Capital Established to handle Sikh Panthic Issues

Guru Hargobind Ji’s Akaal Sena Military / Gatka training

Use of weapons for self-defense

Carry weapons all the time

Baba Deep Singh Fought Abdali’s Army to protect Amritsar / Golden

Temple

Sukha Singh / Mehtab Singh Fought and killed Massa Rangar to presence sanctity of

Golden Temple

History / Library / Artifacts

Rumors of Model and Attack Run away or Defend?

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WHY NOT JUST KILL OR ARREST BABA

JARNAIL SINGH?

Easy to meet or assassinate – so why attack?

He surrendered him self to the Police 6 months before the attack, but was not arrested

V.C of Police Amritsar, Gurdev Singh wanted arrest warrant

It was not about Baba Jarnail Singh, it was trying to suppress the Sikhs

The attack was not on a political figure or movement, but to suppress a religion, to attack their heart, to strike a blow at their spirit and self confidence – Joyce Pettigrew

Used heavy artillery, tanks, helicopters, commandos

Illegal per Indian Law

Around 40 other historical Gurduaras attacked at that time, thousands more innocent Sikhs were murdered

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WHY JUNE 1ST

Guru Arjan Dev ji’s Shaheedi Divas

Maximum damage to the Sikhs

Only allowed to enter, no one could leave

No warning before attack

Elders, Women and Children not spared

Stop Grain Shipment / Tax – Dharam Yudh Morcha

Media Blackout, Communications Cut

Amnesty Banned

Propaganda about Khalistan

Paid Anti-Sikh Propaganda by agencies such as Rediff Govt agencies still active in Gurduaras around the

world

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WHAT HAPPENED?

Gen Shubeg Singh setup defense

Hero of the Indo-Pak/Bangla War of 1971

From the lineage of Mehtab Singh

Military Assault from May 31 to June 7

Akal Takht Destroyed

In-humane treatment of prisoners and murder

5-8K pilgrims killed (Gov’t claims <500)

Bodies taken away and cremated / no records kept

Reference library looted and burnt

40 other Gurduaras attacked same time

“I don’t give a damn if the Golden Temple and whole of Amritsar are destroyed. I want Bhindranwala dead” (Indira communicating with Gen Vaidya during Operation Blue Star)

“We have broken the back of the Sikhs and we will get them elsewhere” (MK Wali, India Foreign Sect on CBC)

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CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

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May 25

100K Army troops deployed around Amritsar

June 1

Pilgrims gather for Guru Arjan ji’s Gurpurab

Some sniper firing by the Army

June 3

All communications are cut, Curfew imposed, journalists are expelled

June 4

Army starts firing towards Bunga’s, Water tank, Teja Singh Samundri Hall and surrounding buildings

June 5

Heavy artillery used by the Army, commandos start entering the complex, temple complex is blazing,

various attempts to enter Akal Takht. Darshani Deori

June 6

Tanks enter the complex, destroying the marble parkarma and started firing Akal Takht. Regiments

invading hostel complex. Innocent pilgrims rounded up, tourtured and killed point blank – including women

and children.

Troops enter Akal Takht, little resistance

Army troops on rampage, killing and looting surrounding Sikh houses

June 7

Bodies of Baba Jarnail Singh and other Shaheeds found

Darshani Deori destroyed, treasures looted, library burned down, historical artifacts lost/stolen

Thousands of innocent pilgrims murdered

Followed by a decade of illegal / fake police encounters killing thousand of innocent Sikhs

“You do not know the might of our armed forces. We will eliminate 10,000 Sikh youths

and the world will know nothing about it” (PM Chander Shekar, 1991)

SARBAT KHALSA 1986

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April 13, 1986 Sarbat Khalsa held at Akal Takht Sahib Amritsar

Over half millions Sikhs attended and all Jathas came together to

make a decision for the Panth

Rebuild Akal Takht that was previously built by Government

after 1984

Declaration for Independence of Sikhs - Khalistan!

ACCORDING TO UN – WHO HAS THE RIGHT

TO SELF DETERMINATION

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Identifiable Group

Identifiable Location

Historical Rule

Will to Self Determination

Demonstrate Capacity to Self

Determination

Effective Group Suffers continuous

oppression of Human Rights

WHAT DO WE LEARN?

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Do Not base our history and heroes from impartial Government

reports

Through our History, our Heroes are based on our Sikh

perspective

US got it’s freedom from England because of brave citizens who

stood up against tyranny!

Heroes who stand up for common people always face character

assassination

Until Lions have their own historians, the tale of the hunt will

always glorify the hunter!

Few brave Sikhs, held the world’s third largest Army for 6 days

with only few outdated weapons

Use it as an inspiration – stories such as Garja Singh Bota Singh,

Meer Manu etc.

Remember this not as Operation Bluestar, but as

THE BATTLE OF AMRITSAR

RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION

THE END

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SOURCES

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www.ensaaf.org

www.sikhri.org

www.sikhyouthalliance.org

www.neverforget84

www.everything13.org

www.sikhsforjustice.org

Saka Neela Tara – Giani Kirpal Singh Ji

Saachi Sakhi – Sirdar Kapur Singh Ji

The Gallant Defender – A.R. Darshi

Various Speeches Harinder Singh (sikhri)

Dr. Sukhpreet Singh Udhoke

Bhai Mukhtiar Singh Ji