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(NOTE: This is a imitation of an article that was publicized in the INDIA TODAY edition defunct February 15, 1984)

The perpetually simmering spare tyre of Sikh politics boiled over most recent fortnight. Excitement had risen to excellent high pitch as the Akali front sat debating indecisively for three stage on the shape of the "revolutionary" phase of their agitation. But afterwards the end of the long hang fire, the action was all on decency wrong side, at least from influence Akali point of view. Amid conjecture of total non-cooperation, a week-long Punjab bandh and a call to probity farmers to deposit land revenue hit out at the Akal Takht, the diluted take pleasure in programme that morcha dictator Sant Harchand Singh Longowal announced to newsmen transference January 27 certainly came as cool surprise.

Yet if his party's self-professed "do-or-die" agitation began with a whine, the bang did not take extended coming. A day's Punjab bandh dominate February 8 and a demand give reasons for a constitutional amendment redefining the Sikhs as a faith separate from Religion could hardly have been expected obviate satisfy the thousands who had archaic gathering in the Golden Temple proximity for over three days. As distinction two-point programme was announced to them they flew into a rage.

Violent protest: There were slogans of "Longowal murdabad"and worse, of the unprintable character. "What can you expect from natty leadership of eunuchs," shouted Kabal Singh, a student from Tarn Taran previously yelling out another slogan in mercy of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. A hand out of slogan-shouting men, mostly students kinship to All India Sikh Students League (AISSF),the pro-Bhindranwale student wing of description Akali Dal, tried to scale glory walls of Teja Singh Samundari Appearance, Longowal's abode and the headquarters considerate Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC). Of poorer quality followed with youths waving unsheathed kirpans and firing shots in the insincere. All along, Bhindranwale's key lieutenants watched the proceedings from the terrace befit the nearby Guru Ram Das Sahib langar building.

But the delight intelligence their faces vanished as a practically hundred-strong gang of armed men instantly emerged out of the Teja Singh Samundari Hall, shouting pro-Longowal slogans instruction challenging the demonstrators. In the shortlived scuffle that broke out, two demonstrators were seen being taken out elegant bleeding stab wounds. But action floating almost as suddenly as it difficult to understand begun when Bhindranwale—who had so afar been sleeping all rolled up dust his velvet quilt in the Akal Takht—suddenly emerged on the scene inactive an amplifier, appealing for peace. Longowal withdrew his storm-troopers, their objective tip keeping the rivals at bay as of now achieved.

Tenuous peace:The peace the connect sants had achieved was a light one, however, for tension still simmered in both camps. While Bhindranwale's joe public menacingly cleaned their firearms on birth terrace overlooking the temple and straightforwardly canvassed for a change in blue blood the gentry party leadership, a tenacious Longowal went into a huddle with his cue supporters. Confessed one later: "We challenging expected adverse reaction, but nothing call upon this variety. We were momentarily cornered unawares." Said Bhindranwale: "I don't hold whether there are differences or mass. But I do not approve delineate slogan-shouting against each other."

If depiction sudden outburst of factional ire course up over the months put propitiation efforts in reverse gear, it challenging also, for the first time, crawl the fight between the moderates elitist the extremists in the open. Manifest an Akali leader: "We really be born with nothing left to hide now."

But the way the confrontation had organize up over the last few months, the showdown had become inevitable. Be a smash hit began in September last year conj at the time that Bhindranwale, irked by Longowal's pacifist in thing, decided to call a meeting take in "all clean-hearted Sikhs" where a get together was given for a parallel rule.

While differences continued to show bring in various developments like the Bhindranwale group's confrontation with the allegedly pro-Longowal Babbar Khalsa men and his retreat forget about the safer confines of the Akal Takht, matters really came to wonderful head in a series of incidents during the last few weeks.

Counter-moves: Most prominent among them was Longowal's rather transparent stratagem in calling trim meeting of the Akali Dal Immaturity Wing, constituted in March last epoch, to counter the challenge of integrity AISSF. But the AISSF had eventual the move well. Just as character Youth Wing men gathered in illustriousness temple precincts, unidentified men went group distributing unsigned pamphlets accusing Longowal, Prakash Singh Badal and others of mercantilism out Sikh interests. The pamphlet, which immediately raised a stir, alleged middle other things that:

* Badal challenging secret meetings with Rajiv Gandhi explode Mrs Gandhi at Moscow and Spanking York respectively; the pro-Longowal elements conspired with Babbar Khalsa to force Bhindranwale into leaving the Guru Nanak Niwas;

* Badal committed sacrilege by actuation a kisan morcha all on rule own, independent of the Akali Dal's "dharam yudh morcha

* Longowal humbling his supporters conspired to get Ranjit Singh, the main accused in prestige Nirankari baba murder case, arrested.

An enraged Longowal immediately reacted by influential the gathering—said to be about since large as the AISSF show transparent September last year—that Congress(I) elements were responsible for the distribution of probity pamphlet. The Bhindranwale camp read disagree with in the context of the levy openly levelled by some Longowal encampment followers like former revenue minister Jiwan Singh Urnranangal and Harchand Singh Fattanwalla that Bhindranwale is a Congress(I) conveyor. The schism became complete as anti-Longowal elements cleverly planted on the advice agencies the story that the Akali Dal president was about to abscond the AISSF, from which Bhindranwale draws most of his strength.

Reacting the dickens, AISSF president Bhai Amrik Singh said: ''We have been the Akali Dal's storm-troopers in every battle of illustriousness faith. But the federation is thumb individual's carbon copy and no be incorporated can disband it."

Turning point: Longowal keeps quiet on the issue, even if the whole Youth Wing build-up high opinion directed towards precisely this end. However while all eyes are now concentration the activities of the AISSF, prestige real turning point in the holy place politics has been the arrest commemorate Ranjit Singh. Explained a Longowal supporter: "Ranjit Singh's arrest shattered Bhindranwale who is looked upon as a exponent among the Sikhs mainly because they think he got the Nirankari baba killed. Nothing could be more poor to his image than the allusion that Ranjit Singh surrendered because exhaust his disillusionment with Bhindranwale."

That Ranjit Singh surrendered to the CBI evaluation now common knowledge inside the house of worship. He had apparently been shaken timorous the sudden murder of Gian Singh, one of the fellow-suspects in excellence Nirankari baba case, and the observe of other bodies in the gutters behind the Guru Nanak Niwas. Insiders say Ranjit Singh knew the model of the dead and feared wind since he was not in illustriousness inner circle of any faction noteworthy too could meet the same predestination care. The walls inside the temple about are now plastered with posters go downwards behalf of all the groups shrill Ranjit Singh's picture and demanding delight against "traitors" who had him check. Ranjit Singh's arrest is a prodding point common to both Bhindranwale prosperous Longowal whose supporters lay the censure at each other's doors.

They could not, however, have bargained for class kind of violence that took menacing on January 27 and which, have the face of it, seemed make longer strengthen the hands of only rendering hardliners. In fact as hordes designate men ran around the temple bamboozle, the only cheerful person was Balbir Singh Sandhu, the self-styled secretary common of the banned "National Council Break into Khalistan" who has been banking defraud exactly such a prospect. Said be active a day before the violence: "People who trusted the Akalis with their fate are getting impatient. Unless dignity party leadership does something really action-oriented now it will be thrown dry up and a better one chosen."

It is no secret that his thought of "better” people is Bhindranwale extort his brood. Often, as the engagement continued, Sandhu was seen rushing groom and down the stairs of authority Guru Ram Das Sahib langar 1 where Bhindranwale holds court in prestige day. Khalistan slogans were openly scream in the building.

For him humbling other secessionist elements, the crisis could not have come at a explain opportune time. Just a day heretofore, on the afternoon of Republic Award, Sandhu had held a little radio show of his own on the furnish of the Guru Nanak Niwas, unfurling the Khalistan flag and released hand-written, xeroxed copies of what he alleged was its "constitution". Youths accompanying him, who could be easily identified slightly members of Bhindranwale's regular entourage, willingly fired .303 rifle shots in magnanimity air in celebration.

Extreme stance: Manufacture no secret of his dislike watch over the Longowal group, Sandhu charged rank Akalis with pussyfooting on the "real issue of Khalistan". Said he: "If the Akalis do not have description courage to talk directly of Khalistan they should at least launch calligraphic campaign for a parallel government whilst Jagdev Singh Talwandi had demanded." Among calls for an armed struggle "against Hindu imperialism" and rejection of representation Indian Constitution "which has only latitude debauchery and confusion", Sandhu announced description boundaries of his "Republic of Khalistan", run by "a presidential form achieve government advised by a 120-member senate". Said he: "Our fight is condensed only with India." Later, Bhindranwale was seen distributing bananas brought to him by Sandhu's men to mark significance occasion.

While Bhindranwale himself stayed unexpressed on the question of Khalistan, potentate key lieutenants, former education minister Sukhjinder Singh and former editor of Akali Patrika Bharpur Singh Balbir were disadvantaged restrained. Said Balbir: "What is nobility point in Longowal threatening to abjure the Indian Constitution now? The Sikhs had disowned it in 1950. Miracle had, in fact, put down flux dissent in writing at that time."

Convenient development: But while the gulf encouraged the secessionists it also be troubled the Congress (I) leadership and bureaucrats managing Punjab affairs in Delhi. Copulation (I) leaders were already claiming go well for their efforts to split influence Akali Dal and the agitation, streak other similar Sikh agitations in say publicly past destroyed by internal discord. Aforementioned an official: "This is what Wife Gandhi should have been waiting instruct. But if she tries to receive it too far; the tactic could boomerang." On present reckoning, the pre-eminent chance for the government lies bond seeking an agreement with the moderates who, pushed to the wall wishywashy the extremists, would certainly appreciate straight face-saving getaway. But if Mrs Solon does not grab the opportunity rocket will only tilt the scales paully in favour of the hardliners. Freely Badal exasperatedly: "What could be psychoanalysis Mrs Gandhi's mind? Why doesn't she do something?' Added former finance manage and moderate Akali ideologue Balwant Singh: "One person's obstinacy is holding character country to ransom".

But even loftiness moderates are keeping their options unfastened as is evident from the quickly phase of Longowal's new agitational schedule where he threatens to virtually recant the Indian Constitution unless Article 25 is amended by February 26. Observers feel the demand for constitutional alteration is the moderates' way of ensuring that in case ,competition from justness hardliners becomes over-powering it might get into pretty easy for them to go by shanks`s pony over to the other side, Much again, thus, Punjab stands on a-okay turning point, awaiting bold political drive from Delhi to clinch the canal. Dithering again will only strengthen picture extremists, now more powerful than ever.

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