Shiv Sena protests against SGPC over Bhinderanwalaes portrait issue

Activists of Shiv Sena today burnt an effigy of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar to protest against the installation of Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwalaes portrait in the Central Sikh Museum at the Golden Temple complex.

By Ravinder Singh Robin

Amritsar, Dec 1 : Activists of Shiv Sena today burnt an effigy of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar to protest against the installation of Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwalae's portrait in the Central Sikh Museum at the Golden Temple complex.

The Shiv Saniks also raised slogans against the state government and demanded intervention from the Centre to prevent the SGPC from doing such an act, saying it encourages terrorism.

Addressing the gathering, Baldev Bhardwaj, state vice president of the Shiv Sena, also blamed the SGPC for taking out a different Sikh calendar-Nanakshashi Calendar.

"They are creating a wedge between Hindu and Sikhs who have been living peacefully since ages" he alleged.

On Thursday, the SGPC installed a portrait of controversial slain rebel Sikh leader Bhinderanwalae at a Sikh museum.

SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar had earlier announced to install the portrait of the controversial religious leader on November 30. However, it went ahead to install the portrait a day earlier.

Addressing the gathering during the installation ceremony, Makkar said that the SGPC has always been honouring martyrs who have fought for the Sikh community, and it was a moment of pride to install the portrait of one of the great martyr of the 20th century.

In 2003, the SGPC, an apex body controlling Sikh places of worship, had declared Bhinderanwalae as a "martyr".

Bhinderanwalae was killed in 'Operation Blue Star' launched by the Indian Army to flush out separatists from Golden Temple complex in Amritsar.

ANI