Amritsar (Punjab): After pro-Khalistan slogans were raised by Sikh hardliners in the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar on the 36th anniversary of Operation Blue Star on Saturday, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gobind Singh Longowal shied away from supporting the demand explicitly but said that they won't mind if the Indian government offers them Khalistan.
"We won't mind if the Indian government offers us (Sikhs) Khalistan. When have we denied this demand? In fact, we would be happy," said Longowal while addressing the media.
Speaking along similar lines, Giani Harpreet Singh, Jathedar, Sri Akal Takhat Sahib although criticised the slogans being raised while the anniversary was being observed, he said that he wouldn't mind if the slogans were raised post the celebrations.
"If someone wants to express their enthusiasm by raising slogans after observing the anniversary, I wouldn't call it wrong. But it's not right to obstruct the celebrations by raising such slogans," said Singh.
Around 100 activists led by Imaan Singh Mann, son of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president and former MP Simranjit Singh Mann, raised the slogans at the Akal Takht -- the highest temporal seat of Sikhs.
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Apart from the controversial slogans, the day was celebrated with members of Sikh hardliner outfit Damdami Taksal along with Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) officials honouring the families of those who were killed during Operation Blue Star, which was carried out in 1984 to flush out heavily-armed terrorists holed up in the Golden Temple.
Addressing the gathering, Giani Harpreet Singh said the Sikh community will always remember the unhealed wounds of Operation Blue Star.
There was heavy barricading by police around all entry points to the Golden Temple.
