NEW DELHI, India, Sept. 21, Reuter: Khalistani Sikhs fighting for an independent homeland appear to have gained an upper hand for the political control of India’s predominantly Sikh State of Punjab,

The doves and hawks among the Sikhs are divided over a political settlement with the Indian government and the hawks have taken effective control of the Sikhs’ holiest shrine, the Golden ‘Temple in Amritsar, political sources flan newspapers have also reported that the hawks are building a string of gurdwaras (Temples) in Punjab with the help of volunteers and they would eventually control these.

If the hawks have already ousted the Sherman Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), the

Powerful temple management body, from its offices in the Golden Temple and also appear to have the support of three of the four Sikh Head Priests.

Although SGPC still has offices in the Golden Temple Complex, it has been forced to meet elsewhere. Police say freedom fighters are hole up in the vast temple complex which they now effectively control.

_A third faction it by Surjit Singh Barnala, the ousted Chief Minister of the State who has also been excommunicated from the faith for refusing to dismantle his faction of the Akali Dal and join a unified party supported by the High Priests.

Barnala, who reached an agreement on political settlement with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s government in July, 1985, told reporters in Chandigarh, the State capital, that the United Akali Dal had been opportunistic in aligning with hawks,

Gandhi sacked him as the Chief Minister in May after accusing him of faiing to control violence in Punjab and imposed direct rule from New Delhi.

The UAD was so closely linked ‘analysts believed they were also in favour of the Sikh independent homeland called “Khalistan” (the land of the pure), however, the UAD and the SGPC’s call for negotiations with the government for a political settlement, has alienated from the hawks, Harinder Singh, acting President of the SGPC, said yesterday the freedom fighters should realize “the gun is not the right weapon” in the Sikhs’ fight,

“Lam for unity of all Sikhs and Akalis minus Barnala”, he said,

Harinder Singh also accused Gandhi’s government of dividing the Sikhs to weaken the community.

‘Some political sources in Punjab believe New Delhi, which initially negotiated a political settlement with Banala, might now be preparing to directly open a dialogue with the freedom fighters.

‘Much of Sikh politics revolves around the 50yearold religion and its temples, and analysts believe hawks’ control over the Golenilemplaseacennusaciback tn doves.

Sikh insurgency increased stridently after an Indian army attack on the Golden Temple in June 1984.

The Times of India newspaper reported that freedom fighters were constructing several temples in Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts along the border with Pakistan with the aim of keeping them under their control.

“As these ‘Gurdwaras are being built through voluntary karseva (help), they offer an opportunity for the freedom fighters to attract fresh recruits to their cause”, the newspaper said.

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 25, 1987