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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Strike by Sikhs hits Indian state | Strike by Sikhs hits Indian state |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Cities and towns across the northern Indian state of Punjab are shut in response to a general strike called by the Sikh community. | Cities and towns across the northern Indian state of Punjab are shut in response to a general strike called by the Sikh community. |
| Security forces have been deployed and businesses and schools are closed for the day amid fears of violence. | Security forces have been deployed and businesses and schools are closed for the day amid fears of violence. |
| Sikhs are demanding an apology from the leader of a religious sect who appeared in an advert dressed like one of the Sikh religion's most important figures. | Sikhs are demanding an apology from the leader of a religious sect who appeared in an advert dressed like one of the Sikh religion's most important figures. |
| Sikh community leaders say it is an insult to their religion. | Sikh community leaders say it is an insult to their religion. |
| Last week, thousands took to the streets. One man was shot dead in clashes that followed. | Last week, thousands took to the streets. One man was shot dead in clashes that followed. |
| Attempts to broker a settlement between the Sikhs and the sect have failed. | Attempts to broker a settlement between the Sikhs and the sect have failed. |
| Deserted | Deserted |
| Thousands of extra police and soldiers have been deployed across Punjab and the state's political leadership has said peace will be maintained at all costs. | Thousands of extra police and soldiers have been deployed across Punjab and the state's political leadership has said peace will be maintained at all costs. |
| DSS supporters have come from various religions | DSS supporters have come from various religions |
| Streets in many Punjabi cities and towns are deserted. | Streets in many Punjabi cities and towns are deserted. |
| Thousands of machine-gun wielding soldiers are on alert and the anti-riot Rapid Action Force personnel have marched through some of the sensitive areas. | Thousands of machine-gun wielding soldiers are on alert and the anti-riot Rapid Action Force personnel have marched through some of the sensitive areas. |
| In the state of Jammu, Sikhs have held protest demonstrations, burning effigies of the leader of the Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) religious sect. | In the state of Jammu, Sikhs have held protest demonstrations, burning effigies of the leader of the Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) religious sect. |
| The DSS's leader has refused to apologise for appearing in an advertisement dressed like one of the figures most revered by Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh. | The DSS's leader has refused to apologise for appearing in an advertisement dressed like one of the figures most revered by Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh. |
| The Sikhs called it blasphemy. | The Sikhs called it blasphemy. |
| Fearing possible violence by outraged Sikhs, security forces have erected barricades around the headquarters of the Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) religious sect in Sirsa town [in the neighbouring state of Haryana]. | Fearing possible violence by outraged Sikhs, security forces have erected barricades around the headquarters of the Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) religious sect in Sirsa town [in the neighbouring state of Haryana]. |
| An estimated 20,000 DSS followers live on or near the campus. | An estimated 20,000 DSS followers live on or near the campus. |
| The sect also has many smaller campuses across Punjab. | The sect also has many smaller campuses across Punjab. |
| Appeal for calm | Appeal for calm |
| Sikh leaders have demanded that all campuses where sect members live be closed within a week. | Sikh leaders have demanded that all campuses where sect members live be closed within a week. |
| The sect claims it has 20 million members worldwide and says it is not a religion but a humanitarian organisation caring for its devotees. | The sect claims it has 20 million members worldwide and says it is not a religion but a humanitarian organisation caring for its devotees. |
| Analysts say the DSS action has to be seen in the context of state elections held in Punjab in February when the sect leader issued a public appeal for people to vote for the Congress party. | |
| Religious sects have traditionally been subtle about their support for political parties - they have usually issued internal appeals asking their followers to vote for the political party of their choice. | |
| The trouble has been brewing for days | |
| Most Sikhs in Punjab support the state's governing party, Akali Dal. | |
| Some analysts say Sikh leaders, angry at the direct intervention by the DSS in the elections, seized the opportunity to whip up popular sentiments of their community against the sect. | |
| They say the latest conflict threatens to lead to a polarisation of the communities and the dispute could trigger widespread unrest. | |
| Although peace has prevailed in the state for the last decade or so, in the 1980s and the 1990s, Punjab was the site of a violent insurgency by Sikhs who desired an independent homeland. | Although peace has prevailed in the state for the last decade or so, in the 1980s and the 1990s, Punjab was the site of a violent insurgency by Sikhs who desired an independent homeland. |
| In 1984 Indian security forces killed many Sikh militants after they seized the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the Sikh religion's most important site. | In 1984 Indian security forces killed many Sikh militants after they seized the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the Sikh religion's most important site. |
| In revenge, Sikh soldiers shot dead Indira Gandhi, the then-prime minister. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, himself a Sikh, has called for calm. | |