AMRITSAR SAHIB (April 15, 2014)—On Monday, the Sikh Youth Federation (Bhindranwale), a Punjab based youth organization, remembered the 13 Sikhs who were martyred by the so-called Nirankari cult on the Sikh holiday of Vaisakhi in 1978 at Sri Amritsar Sahib. In memory of the martyrs, an Ardas samagam (prayer program) was held by the organization.
Bhai Fauja Singh
Bhai Ranjit Singh, student of Damdami Taksal and leader of the youth body, performed the ardas at Gurdwara Angitha Sahib, which stands as a memorial for the 1978 martyrs.
It is noteworthy that on the day of Vaisakhi in 1978, Sikhs led by Bhai Fauja Singh were protesting peacefully against the anti-Sikh activities of the then cult head Gurbachan who was marching through the holy city of the Sikhs. Being sheltered by the then Badal government, henchmen hired by the cult, along with police, brutally gunned down 13 Sikhs including Bhai Fauja Singh. The massacre laid the foundation for the Sikh freedom movement led by Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.