As debate raged over raising of a memorial for those killed during Operation Bluestar in 1984, the SGPC, in a controversial move, honoured family members of the two assassins of General A.S. Vaidya in the Golden Temple complex.
The kin of Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha, who were executed on October 9, 1992, were honoured by the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandhak Commit-tee at the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, on Tuesday.
The SGPC, controlled by the ruling SAD, also hailed the General’s killers as Sikh martyrs sparking a row even as debate raged over constructing a Blue Star memorial in the holy city.
The SGPC organised an Akhand Path at the Akal Takht to mark the 20th execution anniversary of the two assassins. The function to honour the relatives of Sukha and Jinda was presided over by SGPC secretary Dalmegh Singh. Gen. Vaidya was the Chief of Army Staff when Operation Blue Star was launched by the Army to flush out militants, led by Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale, from the Golden Temple. A number of militants, soldiers and pilgrims were killed during the Operation. Sukha and Jinda had assassinated General Vaidya in 1986 in Pune where he had settled down after his retirement.