Touted as a gurdwara by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab, the Operation Bluestar memorial unveiled Saturday on Golden Temple premises has been dedicated by name to militant Sikh leader Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale and others who were killed during the 1984 Army operation.

An inscription in Punjabi at the entrance to Gurdwara Yaadgar Shaheedan, as the structure has been named, reads: "Memorial in the memory of 14th head of Damdami Taksal Martyr Saint Giani Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindrawale and all the martyrs of 1984".

Notably, a controversy had erupted last year after the SGPC executive committee announced the setting up of the memorial and assigned the work to Damdami Taksal. The SAD's alliance partner, BJP, and the Congress had opposed the memorial.

To defuse the situation, particularly in the light of the fact that the most vocal opposition to the memorial came from BJP, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar announced that the structure would not have any names or photos, but would come up as a gurdwara dedicated to the martyrs of the 1984 Army operation.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal too had asserted that as a religious monument, it will not be dedicated to anyone by name. Both had maintained that like other Sikh shrines, only the Guru Granth Sahib will adorn the memorial gurdwara.

However, the memorial, which was unveiled on Saturday after the bhog of Akhand Path that began on Thursday, has a wall clock with Bhindrawale's picture embossed on it. A banner was also put outside the memorial, dedicating it to him. The fact that the memorial has been named after Bhindrawale was revealed only after SGPC chief Makkar and Akal Takht chief Giani Gurbachan Singh had left. Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Khalsa, the 16th chief of the Sikh seminary, then unveiled the inscription on the entrance.

Makkar claimed to be unaware of the development. "I am not aware if they have mentioned Bhindrawale's name. It was supposed to be a gurdwara and was not supposed to have any names and photos of anyone. I will discuss the issue with Akal Takht chief. The matter will be discussed in SGPC also."

Akal Takht chief Giani Gurbachan Singh also expressed ignorance. "I am not aware whether any name has been written. I would speak to Sant Giani Harnam Singh Khalsa and the issue would be sorted out," he said.

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