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« on: October 06, 2012, 07:26:23 AM »
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale (Punjabi: ਜਰਨੈਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਭਿੰਡਰਾਂਵਾਲ਼ੇ [dʒəɾnɛl sɪ́ŋɡ pɪ̀ɳɖɾɑ̃ʋɑɭe], born Jarnail Singh Brar[3] (Punjabi: ਜਰਨੈਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਰਾੜ)) (12 February 1947 − 6 June 1984) was 14th Chief of the Damdami Taksal, a Sikh religious group based in India,who supported implementation of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution. He called for a return to what considered to be the "pure" roots of Sikhism. He campaigned against liquor, drugs and laxness in reilgious practices (such as cutting of Kesh by the Sikh youth). He strongly condemned the Indian constitution's Article 25 declaring minorities such as Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists as part of Hinduism. In August 1982, Bhindranwale and the Akali Dal Launched the Dharam Yudh Morcha, or the “battle for righteousness.” Their goal was the fulfillment of the demands based on the Anandpur Sahib Resolution.
In 1981, Bhindranwale was arrested for his suspected involvement in the murder of Jagat Narain, the proprietor of the Hind Samachar Group. He surrendered to police and was later released due to lack of evidence. Bhindranwale was also, however, kept on close watch by Indian police officials. Bhindranwale is more notable for his involvement in Operation Blue Star in which he and his supporters who believed in Bhindranwale's objectives, occupied the Akal Takht complex, including the Golden Temple, in Amritsar. He was killed by the Indian Army, who had orders from Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to remove all armed militants inside the temple. Since his death, Bhindranwale has remained a controversial figure in Indian history. While the Sikhs' highest temporal authority Akal Takht describe him a great martyr of the Sikh Nation, who made supreme sacrifice for the sake of faith, the Indian government views him as an extremist.
Although often associated with the Khalistan movement, he neither opposed nor supported the formation of Khalistan.However, he did consider Sikhs as "a distinct nation", where nation means a community united by common history, geography and culture. In an interview, he stated that "We [the Sikhs] like to live together, we like to live in India.", but also said that if the government of India agreed to the creation of Khalistan, he would not refuse
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