Sikh body sore at Bhindranwale's description

Advani in his autobiography My Life, My Country, wrote, "The history of militancy in Punjab clearly shows that Bhindrawale became a 'Bhasmasur' (a demon)..."

A Sikh body on Saturday took exception to the description of militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale as "bhasmasur" by BJP leader LK Advani in his autobiography and demanded a public apology from him.

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"We always had a good relationship with BJP. But until and unless Advani apologises publicly for his remark, we are not going to support them," Paramjit Singh Sarna, President of the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee, told reporters.

"Bhindrawale is definitely a saint. He was a Sikh religious preacher who helped to remove many social evils like alcoholism," he claimed.

Advani in his autobiography My Life, My Country, wrote, "The history of militancy in Punjab clearly shows that Bhindrawale became a 'Bhasmasur' (a demon)..."

"After 24 years of the infamous 'Operation Blue Star', we now have written evidence in the form of Advani's book that apart from the Congress, BJP was also equally responsible for the massacre," Sarna alleged.

The committee also protested Advani's claim that Sikhs were part of Hindu religion. "We won't tolerate this (theory). We never were part of Hindu civilisation. We won't compromise with Sikh principles," he said.

In his book Advani has written that the country "just cannot accept Sikhs being separated from Hindus. Tradition and culture and families and even religion all are interlinked and intertwined inextricably".

Sarna also accused Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal of compromising with Sikh principles for vested political interests by defending Advani on the matter and demanded a clarification from him.

"Badal is compromising for keeping his position in the government. He is defending Advani only for political gain. We want clarification from him regarding his stand," said Sarna.

The Committee will also ask for Akal Takht intervention in this issue. "We will go to Akal Takht to create pressure on Advani to apologise. We will ask for its intervention so that Badal can come up with a clear stand on the issue," said Sarna.