Punjabi University removes content which attributed Terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale as “Terrorist” after SGPC wrote letter to them.

On 13th of July, Punjabi University went up to remove some contents from the book of MA political science. The book of MA political science attributed Khalistani Terrorist as “Terrorist”. Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) came in objection as the book mentioned Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale as a terrorist. SGPC president wrote to the department and requested them to remove the content and called Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale as “Saint”. The syllabus-based book is published by the university’s Distance Education Department.

SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh on the letter wrote “Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale has been described as a terrorist in the syllabus of MA political science. This unacceptable language is found in the Punjabi medium book of MA political science (fourth-semester syllabus). From page 26 onwards of the Punjabi University book starting with the chapter titled ‘Punjab De Sikh Jangju Andolan Da Vishleshan’ (Analysis of Sikh Militant Movement in Punjab), Bhindranwale has been targeted and the curriculum contains many more controversial information about the Sikh struggle. In view of the seriousness of the matter, I have ordered to take action. We have written a letter to the V-C of Punjabi University and the department concerned asking them to make amends for the insulting content. This is nothing but an expression of the university’s anti-Punjab and anti-Sikh mindset which could endanger the state’s peaceful atmosphere. “Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was a Qaumi Shaheed, declared martyr by Sri Akal Takht Sahib. He fought for the rights of Sikhs and Punjab, and was martyred in a clash with the Army during Operation Blue Star. Legal action would be taken against the university if it doesn’t change the content and apologise,” the SCPC chief added.

Sadly Satnam Singh Sandhu, the head of the Distance Education Department of Punjabi University, Patiala bent his head down in front of Khalistanis and said in the matter “I came to know about the objectionable content. We will remove it and launch a probe into how it became part of the syllabus,”.

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