Sikh student federation launches Bhindranwale sticker drive in Ludhiana - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Activists of Sikh student federation here on Monday released posters and stickers of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the main architect of militancy in Punjab, calling him a "saint." Protestors took to roads on Monday to paste his 100,000 stickers at various places including vehicles and walls. "Earlier, the stickers of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale pasted on vehicles and walls were objected by some political parties, especially Congress and Shiv Sena. They claimed that he was a militant. So, releasing stickers of him is our way of answering the government," said Gurdeep Singh Gosha, Member of Sikh Student Federation (Mehta). Bhindranwale was killed in "Operation Blue star" launched by the Indian army to flush out separatists from the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, killing scores and damaging the Akal Takht structure during the operation. "People say that one should not paste the stickers of Bhindranwale on their vehicles or the walls, but he rests in our hearts. He was accused of being a militant, but he always fought for the upliftment of the Sikh community. His teachings will remain in our hearts forever," said Jatinder Singh, a local resident. Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who ordered the Operation Blue star, was gunned down four months later by two of her Sikh bodyguards over the Operation Blue Star.