AMRITSAR: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh first time after his heart bypass surgery Tuesday paid obeisance at the holiest Sikh Shrine Golden Temple here  early in the morning amidst the tight security cover.

Dr. Singh cladding in white Kurta Pajma along with black jacket and blue turban was accompanied by his wife Gursharn Kaur who was cladding white suit and similar colure of Duppata.

Dr. Singh and his wife were offered Siropa (robe of honor) inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple by Jathedar Akal Takht Gyani Gurbachan Singh.

After getting Siropa Dr. Singh inside the sanctum sanctorum, squatted in the VIP enclosure and listened religious hymns with rapt attention while keeping his eyes closed for half an hour. Dr. Singh spent one hour in the Golden Temple as he arrived at 6.05 a..m took full round of the marbled periphery and paid obeisance at various points of the Golden Temple besides sanctum sanctorum.

SGPC   president Avtar Singh Makkar, SGPC Secretary Dalmegh Singh and Manager Golden Temple Harbhjan were sitting in the VIP enclosure with Dr. Singh.

At one time, when Dr. Singh entered in the sanctum sanctorum, all eyes including Makkar and priest sitting before the Holy Guru Granth Sahib glued on Dr. Singh for few moments unless he squatted to listen hymns. The entire sanctum sanctorum was occupied by the CID personal of Punjab police, Task force of the SGPC and NSG during the half an hour stay of Dr. Singh.

Thereafter, Dr. Singh and his wife were escorted to the Information Centre of the Golden Temple by Makkar where Dr. Singh and his wife were again honored by Makkar with replica of Golden Temple, set of Sikh religious books and shawls.

At information Centre during tea, Makkar discussed various issues verbally with Dr. Singh with regards to Sikh and Hindu community facing tough time at Swat Valley of Pakistan due to the domination of Talibans.

Makkar urged Dr. Singh for adequate security of Sikh devotees who were going to Pakistan on the eve of Baisakhi Festival ((the foundation day of Khalsa Panth) in Pakistan next month in April.

Makkar informed Dr. Singh that in the light of present circumstances, the security of Sikh Jatha was the prime issue for SGPC. He said that in this regard SGPC had also conveyed its concern to the Union Government of India to hold talk with Pakistan Government. Makkar said that so far, no reply was received from the Union Government of India in this regard that made SGPC more worried.
 
Makkar also apprised Dr. Singh that presently all the Sikh shrines located in the Swat valley of North West of Pakistan were under the control of Taliban people.

Makkar told Dr. Singh that Sikh and Hindu families were not safe and sound in Pakistan as they were on run. Makkar told Dr. Singh that at presently nearly 300 Sikh and Hindu families in Pakistan taking shelter at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib due to the increasing terror of Talibans.

Makkar urged Dr. Singh to hold talk with Pakistan Government on priority basis to provide adequate security to all the Pakistan based Hindu and Sikh families.

Dr. Singh had arrived in the city last evening in special plane of Indian Air force, landed at Rajasansi Airport.  Before taking off to Delhi, Dr. Singh also paid obeisance at the famous Hindu Durgiana Temple of the city where management of the Temple also honored Dr. Sing and his wife Gursharn Kaur.

None of the Congress activist or leader was seen around the Prime Minister at Golden Temple and Durgiana Temple as it was purely his private visit even media was kept at quite distance. It was a kind of pilgrimage visit of Dr. Singh after his successful heart bypass surgery.