The Multifarious Faces of Sikhism
throughout Sikh History
Page 3 of 5
Sant
Nirankaris cont'd
At that time, Haryana was having a dispute
with Punjab over sharing of waters. Evidently,
the majority of Sikhs felt that the Haryana
courts would lean towards the Sant Nirankaris.
1978
Jarnail Singh Bhindrawala (second from left)
over the dead body of Fauja Singh
The Akali Dal allowed the Sant Nirankaris to
move their case to avoid breaking up the coalition
government. The Haryana court acquitted the
Sant Nirankaris. Nirankari web site gives Nirankari
version of above said and after math thus:
‘Quite predictably,
the voice of truth first raised by Baba
Buta Singh Ji and Avtar Singh Ji and now
spread by Baba Gurbachan Singh was opposed
by the orthodox. The rapid progress of the
Mission under the divine leadership of Baba
Gurbachan Singh Ji, in fact, upset these
elements to the level of desperation. Baba
Ji called upon them to first understand
the Mission and then point out if there
was anything wrong. But all his gestures
fell flat on them. Nirankari congregations
were disturbed at many places. Violent attacks
were also reported from several centres.
The worst in the chain was the attack
on the Baisakhi Smagam in Amritsar on April
13th, 1978. Baba Gurbachan Singh
Ji was scheduled to address the Samagam.
But before he arrived, about 200
fanatics attacked the congregation. The
police opened fire. Eighteen precious lives
were lost. The incident was followed
by a court case. Several Nirankari
saints remained in judicial custody for
more than two years before they were acquitted
honourably. The case was declared
to be false and fabricated. The court passed
severe strictures against then government
for filling a totally false case against
innocent Nirankaris. The court held fanatics
responsible for brutal attack on peaceful
Nirankari congregation. While the case was
on, Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji did not sit
back due to the turmoil. He declared that
such opposition Truth had always to face
and the greatest quality of the saints is
that they do not feel frustrated realising
that the truth is on their side and it must
triumph in the long run. There was, therefore,
no let up in the activities of the Mission.’
Source:
http://www.nirankari.com/history/hist4.htm
Gurbachan Singh
Gurbachan Singh attending a 'Samagam' in Delhi
