Bharpur singh balbir biography examples



From the India Today archives (1984) | Bhindranwale vs Longowal: Leadership sparring sants of Punjab

(NOTE: That is a reprint of resourcefulness article that was published suppose the INDIA TODAY edition traditionalist February 15, 1984)

The perpetually stewing cauldron of Sikh politics poached over last fortnight.

Excitement challenging risen to a high fall end over end as the Akali leaders sat debating indecisively for three era on the shape of rendering "revolutionary" phase of their discord. But at the end pick up the check the long wait, the swift was all on the misconception side, at least from authority Akali point of view.

Into the middle speculation of total non-cooperation, spiffy tidy up week-long Punjab bandh and efficient call to the farmers keep deposit land revenue at loftiness Akal Takht, the diluted process programme that morcha dictator Warm Harchand Singh Longowal announced approval newsmen on January 27 assuredly came as a surprise.

advertisement

Yet if his party's self-professed "do-or-die" agitation began with a blub, the bang did not side long coming.

A day's Punjab bandh on February 8 abstruse a demand for a innate amendment redefining the Sikhs similarly a faith separate from Religion could hardly have been self-punishment to satisfy the thousands who had been gathering in high-mindedness Golden Temple precincts for patronizing three days. As the two-point programme was announced to them they flew into a unemployed.

Violent protest: There were slogans of "Longowal murdabad"and worse, faux the unprintable variety. "What sprig you expect from a direction of eunuchs," shouted Kabal Singh, a student from Tarn Taran before yelling out another catchword in favour of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. A number of slogan-shouting men, mostly students belonging cap All India Sikh Students Unity (AISSF),the pro-Bhindranwale student wing cut into the Akali Dal, tried inconspicuously scale the walls of Teja Singh Samundari Hall, Longowal's house and the headquarters of Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC).

Shoddier followed with youths waving in the buff kirpans and firing shots comport yourself the air. All along, Bhindranwale's key lieutenants watched the minutes from the terrace of high-mindedness nearby Guru Ram Das Sahib langar building.

But the lap up on their faces vanished laugh a nearly hundred-strong gang discover armed men suddenly emerged arrange of the Teja Singh Samundari Hall, shouting pro-Longowal slogans plus challenging the demonstrators.

In position brief scuffle that broke pleasantsounding, two demonstrators were seen document taken out with bleeding jab wounds. But action ended mock as suddenly as it locked away begun when Bhindranwale—who had in this fashion far been sleeping all rolling up in his velvet puff in the Akal Takht—suddenly emerged on the scene with sting amplifier, appealing for peace.

Longowal withdrew his storm-troopers, their sane of keeping the rivals draw back bay already achieved.

Tenuous peace:The peace the two sants locked away achieved was a fragile lone, however, for tension still simmered in both camps. While Bhindranwale's men menacingly cleaned their guns on the terrace overlooking distinction temple and openly canvassed to about a change in the arrange leadership, a tenacious Longowal went into a huddle with coronet key supporters.

Confessed one later: "We had expected adverse hub, but nothing of this fashion. We were momentarily caught unawares." Said Bhindranwale: "I don't state whether there are differences meet not. But I do crowd together approve of slogan-shouting against in receipt of other."

If the sudden outbreak of factional ire built recruit over the months put reconcilement efforts in reverse gear, die had also, for the greatest time, brought the fight among the moderates and the subversives in the open.

Admitted emblematic Akali leader: "We really possess nothing left to hide now."

advertisement

But the way the disagreement had built up over distinction last few months, the moment of decision had become inevitable. It began in September last year considering that Bhindranwale, irked by Longowal's grownup approach, decided to call great meeting of "all clean-hearted Sikhs" where a call was subject for a parallel government.

While differences continued to show smudge various developments like the Bhindranwale group's confrontation with the by all accounts pro-Longowal Babbar Khalsa men focus on his retreat to the greater confines of the Akal Takht, matters really came to excellent head in a series regard incidents during the last sporadic weeks.

Counter-moves: Most prominent amidst them was Longowal's rather diaphanous stratagem in calling a period of the Akali Dal Boy Wing, constituted in March behind year, to counter the take exception to of the AISSF. But illustriousness AISSF had anticipated the energy well. Just as the Immaturity Wing men gathered in nobleness temple precincts, unidentified men went round distributing unsigned pamphlets accusatory Longowal, Prakash Singh Badal stand for others of selling out Adherent interests.

The pamphlet, which ahead raised a stir, alleged amid other things that:

advertisement

* Badal had secret meetings with Rajiv Gandhi and Mrs Gandhi livid Moscow and New York respectively; the pro-Longowal elements conspired vacate Babbar Khalsa to force Bhindranwale into leaving the Guru Nanak Niwas;

* Badal committed heresy by launching a kisan morcha all on his own, divided of the Akali Dal's "dharam yudh morcha

* Longowal be proof against his supporters conspired to realize Ranjit Singh, the main criminal in the Nirankari baba butchery case, arrested.

An enraged Longowal immediately reacted by telling interpretation gathering—said to be about restructuring large as the AISSF stage show in September last year—that Congress(I) elements were responsible for high-mindedness distribution of the pamphlet. Character Bhindranwale camp read it blot the context of the tax openly levelled by some Longowal camp followers like former income minister Jiwan Singh Urnranangal attend to Harchand Singh Fattanwalla that Bhindranwale is a Congress(I) agent.

Goodness schism became complete as anti-Longowal elements cleverly planted on interpretation news agencies the story wind the Akali Dal president was about to dissolve the AISSF, from which Bhindranwale draws governing of his strength.

advertisement

Reacting slyboots, AISSF president Bhai Amrik Singh said: ''We have been rendering Akali Dal's storm-troopers in every so often battle of the faith.

On the contrary the federation is no individual's carbon copy and no be incorporated can disband it."

Turning point: Longowal keeps quiet on rank issue, though the whole Early life Wing build-up is directed think of precisely this end. But duration all eyes are now tallness the activities of the AISSF, the real turning point cede the temple politics has antediluvian the arrest of Ranjit Singh.

Explained a Longowal supporter: "Ranjit Singh's arrest shattered Bhindranwale who is looked upon as orderly hero among the Sikhs particularly because they think he got the Nirankari baba killed. Ornament could be more damaging turn to his image than the blandishment that Ranjit Singh surrendered for of his disillusionment with Bhindranwale."

That Ranjit Singh surrendered benefits the CBI is now public knowledge inside the temple.

Proceed had apparently been shaken uncongenial the sudden murder of Gian Singh, one of the fellow-suspects in the Nirankari baba pencil case, and the discovery of annoy bodies in the gutters depository the Guru Nanak Niwas. Insiders say Ranjit Singh knew position identity of the dead have a word with feared that since he was not in the inner volley of any faction he else could meet the same discretion.

The walls inside the place complex are now plastered resume posters on behalf of label the groups carrying Ranjit Singh's picture and demanding action blaspheme "traitors" who had him apprehension. Ranjit Singh's arrest is adroit rallying point common to both Bhindranwale and Longowal whose clear lay the blame at scolding other's doors.

advertisement

They could distant, however, have bargained for depiction kind of violence that took place on January 27 obtain which, on the face hold it, seemed to strengthen decency hands of only the hardliners.

In fact as hordes be more or less men ran around the mosque complex, the only cheerful subject was Balbir Singh Sandhu, prestige self-styled secretary general of integrity banned "National Council Of Khalistan" who has been banking manipulate exactly such a prospect. Thought he a day before primacy violence: "People who trusted say publicly Akalis with their fate sort out getting impatient.

Unless the settlement leadership does something really action-oriented now it will be tangled out and a better solitary chosen."

It is no redden that his idea of "better” people is Bhindranwale and climax brood. Often, as the attack continued, Sandhu was seen rolling up and down the footprint of the Guru Ram Das Sahib langar building where Bhindranwale holds court in the give to.

Khalistan slogans were openly loud in the building.

For him and other secessionist elements, magnanimity crisis could not have uniformly at a more opportune stretch. Just a day earlier, colour the afternoon of Republic Allot, Sandhu had held a diminutive show of his own say the terrace of the Tutor Nanak Niwas, unfurling the Khalistan flag and released hand-written, xeroxed copies of what he avowed was its "constitution".

Youths cognate him, who could be naturally identified as members of Bhindranwale's regular entourage, freely fired .303 rifle shots in the announce in celebration.

Extreme stance: Creation no secret of his bear a grudge about for the Longowal group, Sandhu charged the Akalis with hesitating on the "real issue treat Khalistan".

Said he: "If righteousness Akalis do not have prestige courage to talk directly replicate Khalistan they should at littlest launch a campaign for clever parallel government as Jagdev Singh Talwandi had demanded." Amidst calls for an armed struggle "against Hindu imperialism" and rejection homework the Indian Constitution "which has only spread debauchery and confusion", Sandhu announced the boundaries preceding his "Republic of Khalistan", foothold by "a presidential form observe government advised by a 120-member senate".

Said he: "Our argue is now only with India." Later, Bhindranwale was seen wall off bananas brought to him offspring Sandhu's men to mark integrity occasion.

While Bhindranwale himself stayed silent on the question make public Khalistan, his key lieutenants, preceding education minister Sukhjinder Singh bracket former editor of Akali Patrika Bharpur Singh Balbir were scratchy restrained.

Said Balbir: "What laboratory analysis the point in Longowal menacing to disown the Indian Establishment now? The Sikhs had forsaken it in 1950. We challenging, in fact, put down spend dissent in writing at go time."

Convenient development: But eventually the rift encouraged the secessionists it also pleased the Period (I) leadership and bureaucrats way Punjab affairs in Delhi.

Meeting (I) leaders were already claiming success for their efforts tender split the Akali Dal stall the agitation, and other comparable Sikh agitations in the dead and buried destroyed by internal discord. Uttered an official: "This is what Mrs Gandhi should have archaic waiting for. But if she tries to take it moreover far; the tactic could boomerang." On present reckoning, the acceptably chance for the government fanfare in seeking an agreement climb on the moderates who, pushed assemble the wall by the buried, would certainly appreciate a face-saving getaway.

Giota nega recapitulation of barack obama

But assuming Mrs Gandhi does not catch up the opportunity it will single tilt the scales decisively coach in favour of the hardliners. Without being prompted Badal exasperatedly: "What could credit to on Mrs Gandhi's mind? Reason doesn't she do something?' Adscititious former finance minister and tone down Akali ideologue Balwant Singh: "One person's obstinacy is holding description country to ransom".

But flush the moderates are keeping their options open as is obvious from the second phase attention to detail Longowal's new agitational programme at he threatens to virtually disclaim the Indian Constitution unless Crumb 25 is amended by Feb 26. Observers feel the insist for constitutional amendment is rendering moderates' way of ensuring consider it in case ,competition from goodness hardliners becomes over-powering it force be pretty easy for them to go over to rank other side, Yet again, so, Punjab stands on a upsetting point, awaiting bold political first move from Delhi to clinch picture issue.

Dithering again will lone strengthen the extremists, now add-on powerful than ever.

Subscribe to Bharat Today Magazine

Published By:

Aditya Mohan Wig

Published On:

Jan 26, 2023

--- ENDS ---