Indian Envoy, Jarnail Bhindranwale's portrait removed from US library

Otis Library in Connecticut has reportedly removed a memorial featuring the portrait of killed terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale who was head of Sikh religious sect Damdami Taksal. About three months after the installation the memorial was removed in the part following a request from the Indian government. Nicholson Fortson, the president of the Library Board of Trustees told an international media outlet that the Otis Library and the Norwich Monuments Committee jointly agreed on the removal of the plague, flags, and portrait and was removed about two weeks ago.

India''s Consul General in New York Sandeep Chakravorty said, "I am happy that the unity of the community has been maintained and the library took a wise decision in not allowing a divisive agenda to create rift within the community,"

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The Khalistan leader

The Khalistani leader was killed along with his armed followers during “Operation Blue Star” launched by the Indian Army at Golden Temple Complex in June 1984. Bhindranwale and his follower had occupied Harmandir Sahib and fortified Sikh shrine Akal Takht, from where the group was allegedly running terror activities in Punjab. According to an international media, the memorial to the Sikhs killed in 1984 anti-Sikh was installed at the Otis Library in Norwich about three months ago and was placed on the wall of the library's main lobby. 

City's Plaques and Monuments Committee members, Alderwoman Stacy Gould, Alderman Joe DeLucia, and Council President Pro Tem Bill Nash agreed to the library's request to remove the memorial. 

"They just decided this was not good for the mission of the library," Mr Gould said adding that the "library doesn''t want to get involved in some controversy. The library is a nonpolitical organisation," Fortson said in the report adding that it neither endorses products nor partisan political causes. "We want to make sure our visitors are in a safe atmosphere." 

(With PTI inputs)

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