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The Bloody Vaisakhi: Amritsar - April 13, 1978
This new page in Sikh History
was created in Amritsar, on Vaisakhi day, April 13, 1978. Over 1 million Sikh pilgrims had assembled at
Amritsar on the Vaisakhi day of 1978. At the same time, the Nirankari-called
Sect of bohemians from Delhi and other parts of the Indian sub-continent held a
procession and a conference at Amritsar. During their Conference the speakers
made venomous attacks on Sikhism, Sikh Gurus, Sikh scriptures, etc. A few Sikhs,
under the command of Bhai Fauja Singh, marched from the Darbar Sahib to protest
against this fake Nirankari procession in which Gurbachan Singh Nirankari had
seated himself on a higher position than Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Sri Guru Granth
Sahib, the prevalent Guru of GurSikhs, is always respectfully seated at the
highest platform in any congregation. Anyone seated on a platform higher than
that of Sri Guru Granth Sahib is considered disrespectful and sacrilegious among
Guru Khalsa Panth. Further, the Nirankaris were hurling grave and
malicious insults against the GurSikhism religion, beliefs, and sentiments.
Oblivious to the GurSikhs, the Nirankaris had other plans, including a para-military platoon armed with lethal weapons, guns, revolvers, acid-filled
bottles and mechanical propellants for shooting poison-tipped arrows, all well
positioned behind a row of trucks. The GurSikh protestors were persuaded by the
police officers on duty into believing that steps were being taken to stop
further provocations of GurSikhism sentiments. Then the voice of Gurbachan
Singh, Nirankari chief, was heard over the sound system, saying "these
Sikhs think they can stop us from freely carrying out our program. Let them know
today, how mistaken they are. Time has come to be active for those, who have
come here for this job". Suddenly the para-military platoon briskly
advanced toward the GurSikh protestors. The police on duty hurled tear-gas bombs
against the unarmed GurSikhs, converting them into sitting ducks for their
hunters. Even some Hindu police officials like O.D. Joshi joined the Nirankaris'
attacks on the protesting GurSikhs. When it was all over 13 lay dead and over 50
were seriously injured. The batch of protesting GurSikhs were from Akhand
Kirtani Jatha and Bhindranwala Jatha, led by
Bhai Fauja Singh, included the
following 13 who laid their lives:
The irony of the Sikh situation was this that
Punjab was being ruled by a so-called Sikh Party; Amritsar was one of the
holiest cities of the Sikhs; one minister, Mr Jiwan Singh was also present in
the city; the city was the headquarters of the Akali Party and the Sikh
Parliament (SGPC) and the Nirankaris had long been attacking the Sikh religion
and this was known in the Government. Furthermore all the killers of the Sikhs
escaped from the Punjab safely, even with the help of officials of the Punjab
Government (including Niranjan Singh, an official of the Punjab and, allegedly,
the Chief Minister of the Punjab). Throughout the world the Sikhs exhibited their
fury. However, the Akali ministers of Punjab province bowed before the Central
(Hindu) Government and refused to ban the activities of this gang of bohemians.
Meanwhile these ministers addressed various Sikh congregations and spoke against
the Nirankaris so that the Sikh masses should not become furious against them
for their indifferent (or pro-Nirankari) attitude. Thus this became the starting point of the new
phase of the struggle of the Sikh nation. The lead was given by the Sikh Youth
under the guidance of the Sikh intelligentsia. They had to fight various
platforms: the Hindus, the Communists and some of the pseudo-Akalis, who loved
their office more than their nation. This Amritsar massacre was one of the most
significant incidents of this century for GurSikhs. It led to the murder of Lala
Jagat Narain, the rise of the Khalistan demand, attack on the Golden Temple and
Sri Akal Takhat, and enormous destruction of lives and properties in Punjab,
Delhi, and other locals of GurSikh population. It should be noted that although
Gurbachan Singh's movement call themselves Nirankaris, they do not have anything
in common with the original Nirankari movement that made enormous sacrifices and
significant contributions for Gur Panth’s reform. On October 6, 1978, a Hukumnama bearing the seal
of Sri Akal Takhat (by the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takhat, Amritsar) was issued,
calling upon GurSikhs all over the world to socially boycott these fake
"Nirankaris" and not allow their faith and creed to grow or flourish
in the society. This Hukumnama was prepared by a committee comprising of the
following:
Giani
Gurdit Singh Through this Hukumnama, all GurSikhs were asked
to stop "roti beti di sanjh", food and marital relations, with the
fake Nirankaris. Gurbachan Singh was subsequently killed by the GurSikhs on Apr.
24, 1980. However, the repercussion of the initial event continue to persist.
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