Harike: The Akal Takht on Tuesday announced plans to establish a memorial at Harike Pattan and prepare an official archive of Sikhs it describes as “martyrs” from 1982 to 1995, during an Ardas held on the banks of the Sutlej in memory of those killed during the militancy period and its aftermath.The ceremony, organised jointly by the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Sikh organisations, was also held in memory of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and to pray for justice for victims’ families.In the concluding Ardas, officiating Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj said that while all enmity should end after death, the governments of the time had violated fundamental human rights by declaring the bodies of Sikhs and Hindus “unclaimed” and denying them to their families. He prayed that the Almighty hold accountable those rulers who, he said, had continued their hostility even towards the dead. Gargajj also remembered the sons and daughters of Punjab who, he alleged, were cremated as “unclaimed” and whose bodies were dumped into rivers, and prayed for justice for their families.Addressing the congregation after the Ardas, Gargajj directed the SGPC to establish a “Shaheedi Pattan Memorial” at Harike Pattan with the support of the Khalsa Panth. He also declared that the site would henceforth be known as “Sikh Shaheedi Pattan”, saying it was where Sikh youth were allegedly killed and their bodies dumped into the rivers.He further announced that the Akal Takht, through the SGPC, would compile details of all Sikh “martyrs” from 1982 to 1995, including those who, he said, were killed, declared “unclaimed” and cremated without their bodies being handed over to their families. The records, he said, would become part of the Akal Takht’s official archives.Earlier, the Guru Granth Sahib was installed in a special palki, followed by a recitation of ‘Sukhmani Sahib’ and ‘Gurbani kirtan’ by hazoori ragis led by Bhai Simarpreet Singh from the Golden Temple. Devotees and representatives of several Sikh organisations gathered at Harike from early morning to participate in the ceremony.Among those present were SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Tek Singh, SGPC junior vice-president Baldev Singh Kalyan, chief secretary Kulwant Singh Mannan and several SGPC members.
