Denial may not be a good remedy for both the Centre and Punjab government. Pro-Khalistan slogans being raised on the Golden Temple premises on Tuesday last should not be taken lightly. Many could pass it off as supporters and radical Sikh outfit Dal Khalsa’s activists observing the 39^th anniversary of Operation Bluestar, but there must be caution.

Placards bearing portraits of slain militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhidnrawale were seen and so also Khalistani flags, and slogans of ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ were also raised by activists of SAD (Amritsar) led by MP Simranjit Singh Mann and a former associate at the Akal Takht. 

It was reported that “the entire marbled periphery of Golden Temple near Akal Takht, the supreme temporal seat of Sikhs, echoed with pro-Khalistan slogans.’ And while the event passed off peacefully, it is no secret that Sikh radicals are trying to rake up the movement.

Recall the manhunt for Sikh separatist leader Amritpal Singh and the incident at Indian High Commission in London. What’s brewing? The Akal Takht Jathedar has alleged conspiracies were being hatched to weaken the Sikh community socially, economically and politically and the community didn’t have any positive hope from successive governments. This thinking needs to be overturned. Sooner the better.