Akal Takht head Gurbachan Singh's customary address on the occasion of Diwali drowned in the din on Wednesday amid slogan shouting by Sikh hardliners, even as parallely "appointed" jathedar of Akal Takht also managed to address the gathering but was arrested soon after.
Behind the movement are shock-workers functioning quietly to ensure that a seemingly spontaneous, apolitical, grassroots mobilisation sustains itself without dribbling into chaos or violence. Sai Manish lists some of them.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has written to Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee chief Avtar Singh Makkar, asking him to keep an eye on the misguided youths trying to revive militancy in Punjab.
Over 100,000 devotees have reached the temple town from all over the world for the event.
Various Sikh leaders on Friday hailed the decision of Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikh religion, which annulled its edict of pardoning Dera Sacha Sauda Sect Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to examine the constitutional validity of Haryana Sikh Gurdwara (Management) Act, 2014 under which a separate committee was formed to manage the affairs of the Gurdwaras in the state.
Amid apprehensions that Sikh hardliners might object to the customary address by the Akal Takht jathedar at the Golden Temple, Amritsar city was turned into a fortress with about 5,000 security personnel comprising seven companies of paramilitary forces being deployed to maintain law and order.
'Kirtans' (hymns) were sung and prayers offered as Bhindranwale's portrait was placed alongside paintings dating to the 15th century in the Sikh heritage museum.
The Supreme Court on Thursday directed rival groups Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee and Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee to maintain status quo on the management control of Gurdwaras in Haryana till further orders and directed the state government to take all steps to maintain law and order.
The SPGC will step in if any assitance is needed.
It is as much about farmer woes and the lack of job opportunities as about the mixing of religion and politics.
"On martyrdom day, I pay my respects to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru who sacrificed their life for the nation," PM said in a statement.
Would a Muslim or Christian or Dalit mob who lynched someone because their religious feelings were hurt be given State protection? asks Jyoti Punwani.
'There has been some improvement in Tohra's heartbeat and blood pressure,' SGPC secretary Manjit Singh said.
Take a look at some of the mementos on the auction block.
Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh is all set to take Punjab's close business as well as people-to-people relations with Canada to the next level, with a one-to-one meeting with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Amritsar on Wednesday, said an official spokesperson.
The leaders of some Sikh outfits and hardline groups were taken into preventive custody early Wednesday in apprehension of breach of peace after a call that the newly-appointed jathedars would address the community from the Akal Takht.
Palbinder Kaur Shergill, a sole practitioner with Shergill & Company, has extensive trial and appellate experience and has appeared before courts and tribunals across Canada, including the Supreme Court of Canada.
Modi flagged off the first batch of pilgrims led by Akal Takhat Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib through the corridor, which was thrown open days ahead of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev on November 12.
The police on Sunday shifted Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to an undisclosed destination for "security reasons" amid continued protests over the gunning down of a Sikh demonstrator in Mumbai while radical groups demanded the Dera Sacha Sauda chief's immediate arrest.
The installation of air conditioners inside the temple by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has invited the wrath of the scholars and conservationists. Conservationists say the unique frescoes and the heritage building are now at 'the mercy of variations in temperature'. The official said the ACs were installed 'on persistent demand' of Surinder Kaur Badal, wife of Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, as she frequently visits the temple.
Leaders have appealed to the participants to maintain peace and not to raise any kind of slogans.
The portrait was removed following an objection from NGO Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh Youth Front. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said the portrait has been removed and the circumstances under which it was installed will be investigated.
The Lashkar-e-Tayiba has threatened to blow up the Golden Temple, the holy Sikh shrine which is visited by thousands of visitors everyday.
Talking about the earlier two apologies sent by the Dera Sacha Sauda, Vedanti described them as mere 'press notes' and alleged the language used in the text was not proper.
Dr Singh has accepted an invitation from the SGPC.
The movie Jo Bole So Nihaal is vulgar, say community leaders.
The tenth Sikh guru is believed to have drunk milk from the bowl in 1705.
Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat led the people in paying tributes to Tohra whose pyre was lit by his son-in-law Harmail Singh Tohra.
Chawla, who is the general secretary of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and is known to speak for 'Khalistan', had shared the purported picture on his Facebook page.
Veteran BJP leader Kaptan Singh Solanki was sworn-in as the new Governor of Haryana on Sunday.
Congress candidate from Amritsar Amarinder Singh on Friday held Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal allegedly accountable for Operation Bluestar. At a press conference, he said, "It was Parkash Singh Badal who during the troubled period had instigated the innocent youth to disturb the peaceful situation of Punjab and later he met the then home minister urging him to go ahead with Operation Blue Star."
As the Punjab government sought release of the state's prisoners, the union home ministry on Thursday indicated that legal opinion could be taken in select cases such as old people and those having completed 20 years in prison but not those convicted in serious charges.
Capt Amarinder lambasted Badal for the alleged growing incidents of sacrilege in the state, which he said was a clear attempt by the Akalis to divide Punjab on communal lines.
Deras like Sacha Sauda made the poor feel secure, cared for, loved, provided a support system and gave them dignity, says Sanjeev Nayyar.
The 31st anniversary of Operation Bluestar on Saturday went off peacefully amid tight security arrangements here even as Shiromani Akali Dal.
Indian-American Governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley on Saturday paid obeisance at Golden Temple in Amritsar saying that she was there not in the capacity of Governor of a state but as a humble human being.
Three Sikh men and a woman, convicted of carrying out a revenge attack on Lt Gen Brar for his role as commander of Operation Blue Star in 1984 were on Tuesday sentenced by a British court to between 10 and 14 years in prison.
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