Jarnail Singh, his Singhni and children being honored by the SGPC
(Image: Vishal Kumar - TNS)
AMRITSAR SAHIB (KP) -- Shortly after Jarnail Singh threw his shoe at Indian Home Minister Chidambaram during a press conference in New Delhi, Sikh circles across the globe have tried to arrange an interview with him. Just last week the Sikh Journalist from Delhi was cordially invited to Harmandir Sahib for a private meeting with Avtar Makkar the president of the SGPC.
The private meeting between Singh and Makkar took place at the Information Centre at the Harmandir Sahib Complex. During this meeting, Makkar presented Singh with a job position as media advisor to the SGPC. However, Singh felt committed to his current duties and could not accept the job. Singh felt a great sense of honor to be offered a Panthic position, but decided to decline because his present employer has not let him go from his present duty. In a written statement addressed to the public he wrote that he would like to continue his profession as a Journalist for the Dainik Jagran.
In addition to refusing the job position by Makkar, Singh stated he would not accept any cash-reward or funding for doing his duty as a Sikh and as a Journalist. He mentioned that if anyone wants to offer money they should do so to the 1984 riot victims and their families. Many skeptics have stated that Singh's actions were pre-meditated for political purposes. But Singh has stated, “My act was not pre-meditated as it was [an] emotional outburst and protest against injustice meted out to the victims of [the] 1984 anti Sikh riots.” It was this shout for justice which has given Jarnail Singh immense honor within The Panth.
After the meeting, Singh was presented with a robe of honor (Siropa) due to his courageous efforts to highlight the plight of the 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms that were orchestrated by Tytler, a congress select for the upcoming elections (http://www.panthic.org/news/126/ARTICLE/4891/2009-04-10.html).
After receiving a Siropa, Singh, who was accompanied by his wife and two children, paid homage to the holy place of Harmandir Sahib where the injustices of 1984 began.
