Other States - Chattisgarh   

Ban sought on display of Bhindranwale pictures

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab unit of the Congress party has demanded of the Union Government to impose a ban on the public display of pictures and portraits of the firebrand militant leader, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Within three days, the party would convene a meeting of all parties, who were concerned about the development.

The demand was raised by the President of the state unit, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who while talking to reporters after chairing an emergent meeting of senior leaders, disclosed that the party would meet the Prime Minister, Home Minister and the Governor, to submit memoranda about their demand.

The party has reacted strongly to the display of Sant Bhindranwale’s portrait in the Sikh Museum in the Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple) complex.

Meanwhile, reacting to the situation, Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal refused to offer any comment.

“I will not say a word on Sant Bhindranwale. It would be better if you approached the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on this matter,” he told reporters before boarding the helicopter parked in front of his official residence.

Ms Bhattal said that by allowing the portrait in the museum, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, headed by Mr. Badal, had put its stamp of approval on the activities of Sant Bhindranwale. She said that there was sinister link between various developments, which included the state government allowing the SGPC members to use red beacon lights on their vehicles, provide them with security guards, installation of Sant Bhindranwale’s portrait and raising of separatist slogans in a Ludhiana Gurdwara. She said that such events recur when an Akali government is at the helm in the state, opening old wounds.

Seeking to remind the assassination of its top leaders, Ms Bhattal demanded an explanation from the BJP, which shared power with the Akalis, who controlled the SGPC. She said that the BJP must come out clean if they approved of the development and inform about the reasons for not seeking a Cabinet meeting on the issue.

Responding to a question, Ms Bhattal quoted a previous statement of the former Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, who is said to have described Sant Bhindranwale as the “Guru of extremists”.

She said that through his activities, Sant Bhindranwale had tarnished the image of the Sikhs, who were viewed with suspicion world over. She dissociated from any previous alliance, including informal one, with the President of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), under whose jurisdiction a shrine displayed Sant Bhindranwale’s portrait.

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Ban sought on display of Bhindranwale pictures

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