Amritsar , June 6 -- With preparations underway for the 41st anniversary of Operation Bluestar - military operation carried out in June 1984 to flush out militants from the Golden Temple - tensions have escalated over Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj traditional "sandesh" (message) from the highest seat of Sikh temporal authority amid opposition by Damdami Taksal.

The controversy started after Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma announced his group would not permit the jathedar to deliver the message, citing that Giani Gargaj did not assume his position according to Sikh "maryada" (religious code) and lacks community acceptance.

In a bid to defuse the situation, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) pr...