1) Nirankaris Acquitted – On January 4th of 1980, the Nirankari chief and all his followers were acquitted of any wrongdoing in the events of Vaisakhi 1978. The acquittal left the entire Panth (global Sikh society) shocked. It was clear that the government was going to continue to favor anti-Sikh organizations. It was established that Sikhs would never receive justice in India.
2) Nirankari Gurbachana Killed – On April 24th Nirankari Guru Gurbachan Singh was killed by Bhai Ranjit Singh and Bhai Kabul Singh. Bhai Ranjit Singh had managed to get a job in the fortress where Gurbachana lived. On April 24th he shot and killed Gurbachana within his own fortress and managed to escape. He gave himself up for arrest on March 24, 1983, and was awarded a life imprisonment sentence. He was made Jathedar of Akal Takht in 1993 while he was still in jail. However he as formally installed as Jathedar after he was released from jail on October 12, 1996.
3) Khalistan – On June 6th an announcement was made about the formation of Khalistan by Balbir Singh Sandhu who put himself forth as Secretary General, and named Jagjit Singh Chauhan as the President of the National Council of Khalistan. The flag of Khalistan was hoisted throughout Punjab on April 13th by Dal Khalsa.
4) Elections of 1980 – After Indira Gandhi was re-elected in 1980, Parkash Badal approached her and told her he would support her if she left him and the power he exerted untouched in Punjab. But Gandhi remembered it had been the Akalis who had protested against her when she had imposed the state of emergency in India, and for that she had to get even with Punjab and Sikhs.
5) The National Security Act of 1980 – This act authorized the detention of any suspected terrorists without trial for two years in Punjab. This act and many following acts institued dissolved any rights Sikhs had in their own country, where they were treated like 2nd class citizens. This further alienated many Sikhs in Punjab. Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale reminded them in his speeches that they were second class citizens in their own country, and that something had to be done about it.
References:
The Sikhs of Punjab By J.S. Grewal
The Gallant Defender By A.R. Darshi
