Kendri Singh Sabha

The Kendri Singh Sabha, also written Kendri Sri Guru Singh Sabha, describes itself as "an apex body of all the Singh Sabhas of India and abroad". The one record of it found is a memorandum to the President of India after Operation Blue Star, printed in the third volume of Gurmit Singh's History of Sikh Struggles. The copy gives no date.

The memorandum expressed shock at the attack by Army and paramilitary forces on Sri Harmandir Sahib and many other historic shrines in Punjab and Chandigarh. It recalled the promises given in Parliament and outside by the Union Government, and noted that the President himself had assured the Sikhs that the sanctity of Sri Harmandir Sahib would not be defiled. It called the attack, together with the killing of innocent people, "a Black Mark on the rulers in our history". It expressed deep anguish over the action of the Government.

What it asked for

• The immediate withdrawal of Army and paramilitary forces from the complex and the other Sikh shrines, and the return of their management to the legally constituted SGPC.
• The release of all Akali leaders, as a first step towards normal life in Punjab.
• That the Government leave the complex as early as possible, "untouched and unrepaired", and entrust the work to the Sikh sangat or the temple authorities.
• That a deputation of five of its representatives be allowed to visit the complex and see what had happened there.

The memorandum adds that the Sikhs have always been in the forefront of the freedom movement, and appeals to the Government not to delay the pending Punjab questions. It is signed by Gyani Gurdit Singh as president and S. Mehtab Singh as Pramukh Sewak, with Giani Hardev Singh MLC of Uttar Pradesh, Gyani Mewa Singh of the SGPC's Dharam Parchar Committee, Honorary Secretary S. Partap Singh, Brigadier Hari Singh (retired) and office-bearers of Singh Sabhas at Ahmedabad, Bombay and New Delhi.

Where it stands: The sources found say nothing of the Kendri Singh Sabha's founding, its other work or its later history.