Punjab Outlook

Discussing Bhinderanwale’s political phases, first phase provided
him ground to get religious introduction in public. His mode of
working in first phase was acknowledged by Congress to dent
Akalis fame. His outspoken and dare political steps were
manipulated by Congress during Sikh-Nirankari clashes (based on
religious faiths) which upgraded his status and was emerged on
political scene of Punjab as central player. He somehow showed
potential to surpass moderate Akalis. So the Congress supported
and promoted Bhinderanwale in SGPC elections. Initially,
congress and Bhinderanwale alliance was politically productive for
Congress as Akali lost State government control in 1980 elections
whereas, Congress won mid–term elections but simultaneously
Bhinderanwale’s dramatic rise as leader in Punjab particularly for
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the quest of separate identity was now disturbing for Congress as
Shani termed his sudden uplift as “lion of Punjab-which Indira
could not tame (Shani. 2008, p. 55).” Keeping Bhinderanwale’s
growing graph as leader in consideration, Congress pointed him as
suspect of Lala Jagat Narain’s (ex-minister of Punjab and MP)
assassination in September 1981. The first attempt to arrest him in
Haryana was a failure and Punjab Police in return “set fire to his
vans and burnt several Bhindhranwale’s sermons and copies of
Guru Granth Sahib. This was an affront to Bhindranwale’s
sensibilities (Singh, 2019, p. 16)”. Later he offered himself for
arrest on 20 September 1981 but was released on the basis of lack
of evidences which results his rise as heroic leader. Bhinderanwale
disassociate himself from Congress and moved to Golden Temple
and align himself with Akalis for Dhamram Youdh (holy war) and
supported Akalis in demanding all the provisions put forward in
Anandpur Sahib Resolution.
Meanwhile, the thesis of Sikhs as a separate nation was
pronounced by Ganga Singh Dhillon, an expatriate, in March 1981,
in his address to All-India Sikh Education Conference convened at
Chundigarh (Singh, 1979, p. 745). A month later SGPC passed a
resolution moved by Akali Dal President Sant Harchand Singh
Longwal, declaring Sikhs were a nation and hold convention at
Gurdwara Manji Sahib (outside Golden Temple) on 26 July,
1981and issued a charter enumerating minimum 45 demands
which latterly reduced to 15. On political grounds they demands
territorial and river water claims as envisaged in 1973 Resolution
and government asked to stop the work on Sutluj-Yamuna Link
(SYL) canal to meet the requirements of the Punjab farmers.
Whereas on political grounds they demand to grant the status of
Holy city to Amritsar, banning the sale of liquor, meat and tobacco
in city, relaying of kirtan (devotional music) on All India Radio as
broadcast from Golden Temple, naming Frontier Mail as Golden
temple Express, carrying Kirpan (ritual sword) on the airlines and
the All-India Gurdwara Act.
Isra Sarwar, Muhammad Shamshad &Farooq Arshad