SANT BHINDRANWALE'S IDEOLOGY AND MISSION

Ideology professed and advocated by Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was not entirely new. It was exactly the same as enunciated by Guru Nanak and developed by Guru Har Gobind and Guru Gobind Singh. However under the influence of Hinduism Sikh ideology was diluted. This diversion happened during the British rule in India. Nevertheless it did not lose its distinct identity as it floated like a lotus in the pool of turbid water. The Sikh religion and the Sikh ideology still looked like a lotus floating in the pool of muddy water. What Sant Bhindranwale did was that he had picked up the lotus from a pool of muddy water and transplanted it in the pool of purity. In other words Sant Bhindranwale revived the true tenets of the Khalsa and gave it a new dimension. This dimension stands in conformity with fundamental law of nature which explains that nature develops progressively and so does the ideology. If any ideology is not allowed to flow and flourish it would become like a stagnant water. Therefore he persistently exhorted the Sikhs to follow the path shown by Guru Gobind Singh and accordingly motivated and inspired them to become Amritdhari and Shasterdhari. Without undergoing that process Sikh could not be transformed into true Khalsa and without keeping arms he could neither defend himself nor the Khalsa Panth. The tradition of arming the Sikhs was introduced by Guru Hargobind after bitter experience of non violence and patience experienced by Guru Arjan Dev who gave a supreme sacrifice for the cause of his faith but his sacrifice failed to change the hearts of the tyrant Mughals. When the policy of patience and sacrifice failed only then Guru Hargobind had to take to arms. He then instructed the Sikhs to offer him weapons and horses instead of money. He accepted weapons and horses at the Akal Takht from his followers. He himself wore two swords as manifestation of Miri Piri. He raised and maintained a Jatha of 800 horsemen, and 60 Sikhs armed with match-locks who always remained present around him to ensure his personal security. Guru Gobind Singh further developed the concept of Miri Piri by creation of the Khalsa.

Sant Bhindranwale simply revived this tradition in letter and spirit and gave it a new dimension by substituting revolvers and guns with swords and spears, and motor cycle with horse. He therefore did not commit any offence by following the Gurus. The cynics may criticise him for revival of the age old tradition of the Khalsa.

When Sant Jarnail Singh felt that the Hindus are manipulating to assimilate Sikhism by following manifold devices he waged a relentless war against this drive and cautioned the Sikhs of the impending danger. In the Constitution of India the Hindus have already incorporated Article 25 (2) (b) which has clubbed the Sikhs with the Hindus. So the campaign launched by Bhindranwale to save Sikhism was justified by all means. For this reason the Hindus dubbed him as anti national. Not only that, the chauvinist Hindus branded him anti national, extremist, secessionist and disruptionist. It is however not a new trick of the orthodox Hindus. For that matter minority religion which fights for its honourable survival is branded by them as anti-national.

Sant Bhindranwale had always been drawing attention of the Sikhs to the way they were treated as second rate citizens, rather as slaves. He cited numerous instances in support of his arguments. Some of the recent instances he quoted are given below :

i) "When Indira Gandhi was defeated in the general elections held in January 1977, she was convicted by the Parliament for breach of privilege and was sentenced to undergo imprisonment for seven days. She was detained in Tihar jail in Delhi. In protest against her arrest two Pandey (Brahman) brothers from Uttar Pradesh hijacked an aeroplane of the Indian Air Lines. They were not convicted and sentenced at all. Instead Indira Gandhi, when regained power in 1980, got them elected Members of the Legislature as the Congress (I) nominees. On the other hand when Sikh youths hijacked a plane on 29th September, 1981 in protest against arrest of Bhindranwale the hijackers were arrested, tortured and prosecuted. They are still languishing in jail. When again Musibat Singh (real name Manjit Singh) and his companions hijacked another plane of Indian Air Lines in protest against the burning of Guru Granth Sahib and two busses of Dam Dami Taksal in village Chando Kalan in Haryana State the main hijacker was persuaded to surrender but was shot dead by the police at Raja Sansi Air Port near Amritsar. The Sant's grievance was that if a plane is hijacked in protest against arrest of a Brahman's daughter (Indira Gandhi), the hijackers are rewarded with membership of the state Assembly and the Parliament , and if the plane is hijacked by Sikh youths in protest against desecration of their "Isht" the hijackers are shot dead. Is it not discrimination against the Sikhs? Is a person like Indira Gandhi more sacred than the "Isht " of the Sikhs?"

ii) "One Ashok Kumar, a criminal and a Brahman by caste, was shot dead by the Patiala police while he was indulging in hooliganism and arsening in 1983. P.C. Sethi, the then Union Home Minister and Chaturvedi Secretary Home Department of India, rushed to Patiala to find out the facts. But when more than two hundred Sikhs were shot dead by the Police during the Dharm Yudh Morcha, not even a peon of the Central government bothered about them."

iii) "As many as eight Sikh volunteers were shot dead and many more were injured by the Police on the day of "Rasta Roko Call". Under pressure of Akali Dal one man Enquiry Commission headed by Justice Dubey (a Brahman) was constituted by the Central Government to hold inquiry into the death of 8 Sikhs besides a Brahmin Ashok Kumar. The Commission shamelessly concluded that killing of eight Sikhs was justified but death of one Brahmin Ashok Kumar was a murder. Is it not a gross discrimination against the Sikhs?"

iv) "One Pawan Kumar Sharma, a notorious criminal (again a Brahmin) of Patiala was found having in his possession 230 high explosive hand grenades. He was let off without registering any case against him. On the other hand a Sikh soldier, Piara Singh, of Ferozepur was accused of stealing a sten gun. Later the sten gun was recovered from the residence of a Hindu soldier but Piara Singh was tortured to death by a Hindu-military officer. Is it not a discrimination against the Sikhs?" v) "Harbans Lat Khanna, a prominent Jan Sangh leader of Amritsar, published provocative posters and displayed them on the walls of the city. The poster said "Duki Tiki Khain Nahin Dent- Sir Te Pagri Rehan Nahin Dent " Katchh Kara Kirpan Ihnu Ghallo Pakistan. (We shall not allow any rank of the Sikhs to raise their voice, if they do, we shall remove their turbans and eliminate them. If any Sikh who wears Five Ks he should be pushed into Pakistan". Evidently such provocative and slanderous slogans which were publicly displayed and also shouted in the streets constituted an offence under the Indian Penal Code, for the offenders had criminally intimidated the Sikhs. The language used in the slogan was derogatory and also anti national, but no criminal case was registered against Khanna. Why? Because he was a Hindu. But if the Sikh youths gave a befitting reply to such a provocative slogan criminal cases are registered against them."

vi) "P.C. Sethi Union Home minister threatened that he would get Bhindranwale dragged out of Guru Nanak Niwas forcibly within a week. Sant Bhindranwale said that the statement amounted to a criminal intimidation. However he challenged let Sethi himself dare come to lay hand at him. On this account a criminal case was registered against him whereas no action was taken against P. C. Sethi."

vii) "Indira Gandhi declared several times that the Sikhs living in Punjab should think of the fate of those living outside. This statement too amounted to a threat given to the Sikhs. In reply Bhindranwale said that the Sikhs are not cowards. They were ready to meet that threat as twenty Hindus could be taken care of by one Sikh. Bhindranwale's retaliatory reply was taken serious notice of and a criminal case was registered against him. But no case was registered against Indira Gandhi who openly and publicly threatened the Sikhs to be ready to face the consequences. Eventually tndira Gandhi's threat was put into practice in Haryana from 17th February 1984 to 24th February when some Sikhs were killed, dozens of Gurdwaras were burned and hundreds of shops owned by them were looted and plundered by the Hindus at the behest of Bhajan Lal, Chief Minister of Haryana. No action against the murders, arsonists and lumpens was taken. What all this lead us to believe?"

Sant Bhindranwale commented that Hindus have unfolded their ugly plans by killing Sikhs and molesting their women under the very nose of the biased police. When the Sikhs were mercilessly massacred, their women molested, their Gurdwaras and Guru Granth Sahib burnt, their shops looted and plundered in an organised manner by the Hindus in Haryana from February 17th to 24th 1984 abetted by the Haryana police and instigated by Bhajan Lal, Sant Bhindranwale was convinced that the threats given by Indira Gandhi were not empty and hollow. It proved that she meant what she said. It was a very serious development. If the Prime Minister of the country openly and publicly incites the Hindus to commit atrocities on the Sikhs and the Hindus readily obeyed her who would save the minorities in India? Does it behove the Prime Minister of a secular India to act like a communal leader?

Seeing all this fury and frenzy Bhindranwale was convinced that the fate of Sikhs in India was in peril. He, therefore, devised some means and ways to defend themselves from the future onslaught of the Hindu Government. It was due to the criminal policy followed by Indira Gandhi that had compelled Bhindranwale to exhort the Sikh youths to form squads of three in each village and Mahallas and purchase motorcycles and revolvers to defend themselves if they were again attacked by the enemies. He pleaded with the Sikhs to become Amritdhari and Shasterdhari if they want to live in India with honour. He reminded them of the glory of the Khalsa who fought the tyrant Mughals and in the long run won the war.

In the second half of 1983 Indira Gandhi was actively supporting Longowal who had betrayed the cause of the Sikh Panth and was secretly collaborating with the Centre in order to isolate and eliminate Sant Bhindranwale. Longowal gave a green signal to the Centre to arrest Sant Bhindranwale from room no. 47 of Guru Nanak Niwas. That is why the Sant shifted to the Akal Takht so that he may carry on his struggle to fulfil his mission. Longowal and his courterie raised objections that no person could live in the Akal Takht but Sant Bhindranwale countered this by citing numerous instances when Akali leaders including Master Tara Singh had been living there. When Longowal and the company failed in their nefarious design to oust Bhindranwale the Longowal clique pressurised Jathedar of Akal Takht to issue Hukamnama against Bhindranwale but by that time the Sant had become so powerful with the unstinted support of Sikh masses that Giani Kirpal Singh could not dare to oblige Longowal. Longowal felt frustrated on his failure to push out Sant Bhindranwale. Nevertheless he continued his vicious onslaught on the gallant Sant He engaged Gurcharan Singh, an ex-Naxalite, Office Secretary of his Akali Dal to eliminate Sarrt Bhindranwale at any cost. This villain employed one Surinder Singh Chhinda and an immoral young woman Baljit Kaur and assigned them the job to exterminate the Sant. Some how or the other they could not succeed in harming the Sant. However both these hired assassins treacheously killed on 14th April, 1984 Surinder Singh Sodhi the trusted right hand man of Sant Bhindranwale. This outrageous crime was committed in the Sindhi Hotel situated just outside the Golden Temple Complex. Malak Singh Bhatia helped Chhinda to escape after the treacherous murder of Sodhi. But within 24 hour: Sodhi's death was avenged by killing all the conspirators including the assassin and his mistress Baljit Kaur. This conspiracy was apparently hatched at the behest of Longowal. Now Longowal feared that he, too, would be punished by the Khalsa for his unpardonable and heinous crime. He, therefore, doubled his efforts to seek help from the Central Government to eliminate Bhindranwale lest he himself should perish. He talked to Indira Gandhi on telephone and gave her clear signal to take any action which she deemed fit to eliminate Sant Bhindranwale. lndira Gandhi and her son, Rajiv Gandhi, had already decided to take military action against Bhindranwale and for that purpose commandos were being trained at Chakrata, a secret Centre setup for imparting guerilla training to the selected soldiers. The commandos were being trained there since March 1984 who were later to be sent to attack the Golden Temple Complex. A special large model of the Golden Temple Complex was prepared at Chakrata, to enable the commandos to make themselves familiar with the exit and entry routes of the Complex so that they may not experience any difficulty at the time of actual military action to achieve their set goal.

As has been explained earlier Sant Bhindranwale was under persistent attacks from Longowal and his clique. Longowal launched a tirade against Sant Bhindranwale branding him as a Congress Agent and, therefore, he did not allow the Sant to address the Sikh congregations from Manji Sahib. The Sant voluntarily refrained from going to Manji Sahib not because he feared Longowal but because he still wanted w keep unity in the Akali workers which he had brought about with great efforts. Hit, however, continued addressing the Sikh audience from the roof of Guru Ram Das t.angar building. This reduced the number of audience to be addressed by Longowal at Manji Sahib whereas the Langar building hummed with enthusiastic Sikhs. The result was that Longowal was deserted by the Sikh masses and it was he who stood isolated not Sant Bhindranwale. It was his charismatic personality and devotion to the Sikh cause that Sant Bhindranwale captivated the hearts of the Khalsa Panth. He sarcastically questioned as to who actually was the agent of the Centre, he or Longowal? The Sant cited many instances which proved to the hilt that Longowal and his clique were the real agents of the Centre. He disclosed that the Government had cancelled fire arms licences of all of his followers whereas Gurcharan Singh, the villain, and Jiwan Singh Umranangal, a freak of nature, were issued licences for keeping sten carbines. Almost all Akali Members of Legislative Assembly dined with Darbara Singh, whom Bhindranwale compared with Zakarya Khan, and whose hands were stained with the blood of the Sikh youths. Parkash Singh Bada! married his daughter to a grandson of Partap Singh Kairon, the late Congress Chief Minister of Punjab, who had tortured and persecuted late Jathedar Mohan Singh Tur, the former President of SAD. Baiwant Singh Ex-Finance Minister obtained licences from the Congress government for setting up industries and Surjit Singh Barnala handed over Bhai Ranjit Singh, alleged killer of the Nirankari Chief, to the Centre. All these supporters of Longowal were hobnobbing with the Centre with a view to forming a coalition government with the Congress by throwing the Anandpur Sahib Resolution to winds. Sant Bhindranwale said, in spite of all this, they claimed to be Akalis and he is dubbed as a Congress Agent. The truth is clear as to who were the Congress Agents.

Sant Bhindranwale disclosed publicly that Indira Gandhi and her son Rajiv Gandhi expressed their wish to hold secret negotiations with him but he declined the offer. He however expressed his willingness to hold talks openly in any Gurdwara or some public place but the mother and the son were reluctant to meet him in the open. This is in contrast to the secret negotiations being held by the Longowal clique with the Congress.

To the allegations levelled against him by the Government that he was an extremist and separatist he explained "I exhort the Sikhs to become Amritdhari; I advise them to give up all kinds of intoxicants and narcotics; I tell them not to harm any innocent person; I tell them to follow the path shown by Guru Gobind Singh and take revenge from the sinners. In short I exhort them to became true Sikhs. And similarly I advise every Hindu to become true Hindu and a Muslim a true Muslim. If in spite of all this I am branded an extremist then I am proud to be called an extremist."

Another charge levelled against Bhindranwale was that he was a Khalistani and, therefore, he is a separatist. He explained when asked by the Press reporters, "I never demanded Khalistan, but if the Centre willingly gives us Khalistan I would not decline the offer." But on 3rd June, 1984 when the Golden Temple Complex was under the siege of the Indian Army and the zero hour of brutal attack on it was imminent, Sant Bhindranwale did say unequivocally "now we cannot live in India; we need a separate home." Earlier, too, he expressly and repeatedly said that the day the Indian Army attacked the Golden Temple and Akal Takht, foundation of Khalistan would be laid. Unfortunately his warnings have had no effect on the arrogant Indira Gandhi and other Hindu leaders. It is a tragedy that all Opposition Parties formed and led by the Hindus unanimously supported and exhorted Indira Gandhi to take military action against the Sikhs led by Bhindranwale.

Longowal bragged that the Akali Dal is an organisation of the martyrs and as such he boasted that he was President of that glorious organisation. It is true that the Akali Dal has been founded and nourished with the blood of martyrs but it is most unfortunate that a coward and cunning person like Longowal happened to be its president. In response to his boastful utterances Bhindranwale retorted that Longowal is the 14th President of SAD and questioned him whether any of the 14 Presidents ever sacrificed their life for the sake of Sikhism'? Evidently none of the fourteen Presidents attained martyrdom. And when such an opportunity came their way they turned their face and fled. The Sant declared that he, too, was the 14th Jathedar of Dam Dami Taksal and that its very first Jathedar Baba Deep Singh Shaheed laid down his life in defence of Akal Takht. He therefore, proudly declared that the very founder of the Taksal attained martyrdom but what the Akali Presidents have done. Master Tara Singh, Sant Fateh Singh and others undertook fast unto death in order to compel the Centre to accede to Akali Dal's demands. When the Centre did not yield they broke the fast as well as the Ardas. None of them dared to sacrifice life for the sake of the Sikh Panth. Sant Chanan Singh, Jiwan Singh Umranangal and some other Akali leaders vowed to burn themselves alive if their demands were not met. They even constructed "Kunds" for burning themselves but they shamelessly came out of the Kunds when the Centre refused to oblige them.

And this was boastful claim of Longowal that he had presided the organisation of the martyrs. Humiliated by the taunts of Sant Bhindranwale, Longowal thought upon a plan to raise an "Army of Marjiwarhe" (those who were ready to lay down their lives) during the Akali Morcha. Even then Sant Bhindranwale was the first who took the oath at Manji Sahib near the Akal Takht. Longowal, Balwant Singh, Barnala and other Akali leaders and more than one lakh workers took similar oath there from 13th April 1983 to May 1983. They pledged and vowed to sacrifice their lives for the cause of Sikh Panth and to defend the Golden Temple Complex if it was attacked by the army. It is pertinent to note that Longowal, Surjit Singh Barnala, Balwant Singh Ex Minister, Balwant Singh Ramuwalia and others repeatedly declared from the stage of Manji Sahib that if the Centre ever sent army to attack the Golden Temple Complex the army shall have to walk over their dead bodies, "tanks would roll over our dead bodies." They took this oath at Manji Sahib before Guru Granth Sahib in the precincts of Golden Temple and Akal Takht.

But when the army actually attacked the Golden Temple Complex in June 1984 the impostors and cowards like Surjit Singh Barnala, Ravi Inder Singh, Balwant Singh and others had confined themselves in their air-conditioned homes. Longowal. Tohra, Ramuwalia and some others, who were present in the Complex, huddled themselves in the office of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee to save their lives and surrendered to the Army by raising their hands above the heads Even Harminder Singh Sandhu, Gen. Secretary of AISSF meekly surrendered. It was only the "gallant defender" Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale who along with his faithful companions fought the Indian army with dauntless courage and unprecedented valour in defence of their faith and holiest shrines. Longowal, the cowardly and the shameless traitor, who had once boasted that the army would walk over their dead bodies, ironically himself walked over the dead bodies of the brave Sikhs.

II - Sant Bhindranwale's aspiration for Sikh Homeland

Concept of Miri Piri and creation of the Khalsa essentially carry with it the element of sovereignty of Sikh religion and the Sikh nation. This is the essence of the Khalsa philosophy.

Guru Gobind Singh relentlessly fought far achieving this mission and ultimately paved the way for establishing the Missal rule which eventually culminated in the Sikh empire under the Khalsa army led by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and other Sikh Princely states like Kapurthala, Patiala, Faridkot, Nabha, Jind etc. Thus the essential features of the Khalsa philosophy enjoins upon them to fight for sovereignty. So long as true spirit of the Khalsa is alive these essential features will also live alive.

Keeping these essential principles of the Khalsa philosophy alive the Khalsa Panth took active and spirited part in the freedom movement started by the Indian National Congress and surpassed all communities in giving sacrifices. It is however a tragedy that when India achieved freedom the Congress betrayed the Khalsa Panth as they were not given the rightful place in the country as was promised to them before independence. They forgot that like the Hindus and the Muslims the Sikhs, too, had, ruled north west India and that like them they too had aspired for their home land.

Why the Sikhs failed to achieve their sweet homeland? It was mainly for two reasons. One, the Sikh leaders, Master Tara Singh, Baldev Singh, and Madhusudan Singh, lacked vision and wisdom. They failed to see through the wickedness of the Hindu Congress leaders. M. K. Gandhi and Jawahar Lal Nehru who continued feeding them on false promises. Two, the aforementioned Congress leaders deceived and betrayed them under a well considered secret plan but the hazy minded Sikh leaders failed to get wind of their scheme although the British government repeatedly reminded them of the foul game being played against them by the Congress leaders.

To keep the stymie minded Sikh leaders completely befuddled the Congress first passed a resolution in 1929 in the annual conference held at Lahore assuring them that after India achieved freedom no Constitution would be framed by the majority community unless it was freely acceptable to the Sikhs. But when the Constitution was actually framed and passed in 1950 the Congress government threw their promise to the wind. They showed scant respect to the Sikh representatives like Hukam Singh and Bhupinder Singh Mann, who had refused to append their signatures to the Constitution of India.

Again in March 1931 M.K. Gandhi, on behalf of the Congress, assured the Sikh leaders that Congress would do nothing that might alienate sympathies of the Sikhs from the Congress, Let God be the witness to that bond that binds Gandhi and the Congress with the Sikhs. Jawahar Lal Nehru went a step further to assure the Sikhs. On the eve of meeting of all India Congress Working Committee he reaffirmed and reassured the Sikhs saying that the brave Sikhs of the Punjab were entitled to special consideration and that he saw nothing wrong in an area set up in the North wherein the Sikhs could also experience the glow of freedom. But when India actually achieved freedom in 1947 Jawahar Lal Nehru eschewed his words and brushed aside demand 'of the Sikhs saying that now the circumstances have changed. In this way the wily Congress leaders befuddled and befooled the feckless Sikh leaders.

It is pertinent to note that British government knew the actual intention of the Congress leaders. They knew well that the Congress leaders were playing with the sentiments of the simple minded Sikhs. They knew well that after transfer of power to the Congress the latter would back out and leave the Sikhs in the lurch. Hence the British government made an informal proposal to the Sikhs in 1932 that if they disassociated finally with the Congress movement they would be given a decisive political weightage in the Punjab, such as would lead to their emerging as a third independent entity in India. Unfortunately Master Tara Singh, fed on the false promises of the Congress, spurned this golden offer and thus doomed the fate of the Sikhs.

The British were keenly interested to safeguard the interests of the Sikhs. Therefore, once again the British Cabinet conveyed to Baldev Singh that their government was ready to make arrangements so as to enable the Sikhs to have political feet of their own on which they might walk into the current of world history. But Baldev Singh also fell under the spell of the ruthless Congress leaders and shunned the offer for a separate home land for the Sikhs. Thus both, Master Tara Singh and Baldev Singh, plunged the Sikh community into the fathomless sea of miseries and perdition where they have been languishing since independence. It is their misfortune that their visionless leaders failed to take a lesson from the life of Mohammad Aii Jinnah who, too, had been shown much more green pastures and sunshine by the Congress leaders but he had rebuffed them with scorn. He frankly expressed his views that he did not trust the Congress leaders. He, therefore, stubbornly stuck to his guns and ultimately created Pakistan, a home land for the Muslims.

Now the traditional Akali leaders should learn a lesson from the past, study the present and plan for the future. This was what Sant Bhindranwale had expected from the Akali leaders to do. He was of the view that it was useless to remind the government of the broken promises made to them before independence. What was the worth of verbal promises compared to the written promises made by the Central government to the United Nations Organisation and the Security Council in 1948 with regard to the disputed case of Jammu and Kashmir? Jawahar Lal Nehru had referred the Kashmir case to the World Body and sought cease fire with Pakistan. He also agreed in 1948 to hold plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir in order to know the wishes of the Kashmiris as to whether they wanted to merge with Pakistan or India but he backed out in 1956 saying that now the circumstances had changed. If Indian government could back out from their written commitment made to the UNO where lies the question of fulfilling verbal promises made to the Sikhs. It is an irony that instead of giving the Sikhs their rightful place the Indian government, immediately after attaining freedom, branded them as criminals and lawless people. The Indian government issued a secret circular in 1947 to all Deputy Commissioners of Punjab giving them clear direction that : "The Sikhs as a community are a lawless people and are a menace to the law abiding Hindus of the Province. The DCs should take special measures against them."

This was the reward the Congress government gave to the brave Sikhs for the sacrifices they had made during the freedom struggle. Paradoxically the Mughal emperors also branded the Sikhs as a lawless community and therefore they had taken repressive measures against them. And it was against these atrocities that the militant Sikh Guru had taken to arms and met that challenge bravely. 1t is an age old tradition of the Khalsa to fight the tyrants and not to submit themselves to tyranny. If thus the Congress government contemptuously branded them as a lawless people and oppressed them they are justified to meet arms with arms.

In this regard Mohan Das Karam Chand Gandhi also exhorted the Sikhs to take swords if their just demands were not conceded by the government. When Madhusudan Singh asked M.K. Gandhi what the Sikhs should do in the event of betrayal by the Congress, Gandhi firmly replied that in that case the brave Sikhs should take their swords in their hands with perfect justification and safeguard their rights by use of the arms. If Gandhi, a great leader of the Congress, justified armed struggle by the Sikhs to safeguard their interests, why Sant Bhindraranwale was blamed for his militant struggle.

The principles of Miri' Piri and the philosophy Khalsa enjoins upon the brave Sikhs to fight for their rig' safeguard their interests. Thus if Sant Bhindranwale followed the philosophy of Miri Piri and the Khalsa clearly endorsed by M.K, Gandhi for achievement of Anandpur Sabib Resolution what wrong he had done? He had been inspired by the promises the Congress had made to the Sikhs for their separate home land and therefore he had aspired for fulfilment of those forgotten promises. This was his only mission of life and he bravely fought for it.