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Punjab : Dangers of extremism |
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Radical Sikh outfits on June 6 observed the 17th anniversary of Operation Bluestar. The operation was launched by late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s government from June 1 to June 6, 1984 to flush out armed militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar and other Gurudwaras (Sikh temples) all over Punjab. Militant leader, Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwale was reportedly killed in the Golden Temple. Radical Sikh outfits formally conferred martyrdom on Bhinderanwale on June 6.
In a separate function to mark the 17th anniversary of Operation Bluestar, the Akal Takht (highest temporal seat of the Sikhs) high priest, Joginder Singh Vedanti called upon the Akali Dal factions to unite but did not declare Bhinderanwale a martyr despite pressure from the radicals. He appealed to Sikhs to help soldiers who had deserted the Army in protest against the storming of the Golden Temple.
Sikhism’s most well-known seminary, the Damdami Taksal, Bhinderanwale family members and some radicals believe he is still alive. The Akal Takht chief has asked the SGPC chief Jagdev Singh Talwandi to probe whether Bhinderanwale is dead or alive.
These developments along with a series of other happenings (please refer to the last issue of NBN) have given the feeling that attempts are afoot to revive the dark days of terrorism in Punjab. Recently, Mr. K.P.S. Gill, former Director General of Police, Punjab, who stamped out insurgency by his hard and tough measures, had a meeting with the Prime Minsiter in which he is reported to have submitted that the court case against the chief Khalistan protagonist, Jagjit Singh Chauhan (who is now reportedly determined to return to Punjab) is so weak that the latter may get away with minor penalties. Mr. Chauhan has been spearheading the largely dormant extremist movement from abroad and it is felt that his return may trigger off pressure problems in the state.
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