The Centre is examining ways it can intervene to halt construction of a memorial at Amritsar’s Golden Temple to honour those killed in Operation Bluestar in 1984. The home ministry wants to see if it can invoke the Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse) Act 1988, that prohibits religious institutions from allowing premises to be used for activity prejudicial to India’s sovereignty and integrity, to dissuade the SGPC from going ahead.
Top MHA officials said its internal security division may issue an advisory to the Punjab government if it feels this could lead to violence and unrest. A final decision will be taken by home minister Susilkumar Shinde.
“While we respect the rights of institutions, if necessary and permissible under the law, we will advise the state government appropriately. (It) will be examined at the highest level,” an official said. The internal security division is worried at the spurt in actvity by Khalistani elements in Punjab and outside India, including the recent attack on Lt. Gen. K.S. Brar in London.