Punjab’s thin Bhindranwale line: Parties attribute recent rows to ‘novice’ AAP’s stumble | Political Pulse News,The Indian Express

In Punjab's public space, Bhindranwale is a common presence. On buses, cabs, and in temples, his photos have been a brooding presence since his death

Events of the last few days have again brought into focus the contested and uneasy legacy in Punjab of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the chief of Sikh seminary Damdami Taksal who was killed during Operation Blue Star in June 1984.

First came the cautionary note by the Punjab Police, warning that his pictures on some state government-owned PEPSU Road Transport Corporation buses could be used to attack the present Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. This was followed by an order by a nodal officer of the transport corporation, asking for the removal of his pictures, which was quickly revoked following protests by some outfits.

Barely had the brouhaha around the pictures died down, that the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee objected to Bhindranwale’s “distorted” portrayal as a terrorist in a fourth semester political science book at Punjabi University, Patiala. The varsity promptly reacted by saying it would make amends.

In Punjab’s public space, Bhindranwale is a common presence. On buses, cabs, and in temples, his photos have been a brooding presence since his death. Over a decade-and-a-half ago, the Damdami Taksal, which is headquartered at Chowk Mehta near Amritsar, used to have a small stall outside the Golden Temple, selling his memorabilia. Often, they would even play his sermons. More recently, T-shirts with his sketch are not uncommon.

According to a Panjab University professor of political science who did not want to be named, Bhindranwale redeemed himself when he decided to stay back and die in the Army action in Golden Temple, instead of taking their offer of safe passage. “Had he done so, he would have been forgotten and even vilified, but in death he was immortalised. The Sikh tradition eulogises ‘shahadat’ or sacrifice, and despite his failings Bhindranwale became a part of it.”

https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/punjab-bhindranwale-line-parties-attribute-recent-rows-to-novice-aaps-stumble-8031759/


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