Children and farmers block railway tracks during a protest against the new farm bills, at Jandiala Guru in Amritsar.
Members of Bajrang Sena dressed as Lord Hanuman celebrate near an effigy of demon king Ravana during Dussehra celebrations, in Amritsar.
Children dressed as Lord Hanuman aim their bows and arrows towards an effigy of demon king Ravana during Dussehra celebrations, in Amritsar.
A burning effigy of Ravana during the Dussehra celebrations, in Amritsar.
Women from the farming community raise slogans as they take part in the ongoing farmers' agitation, against the central government's newly introduced agri-bills, in Amritsar. Farme...
Punjab AAP President Bhagwant Mann and Talwandi Sabo MLA Baljinder Kaur inspect raw cotton produce while meeting farmers at Maur Anaj Mandi in Bathinda. Mann interacted with farmer...
Students wearing face masks attend a class at a school that was reopened after closure for months owing to coronavirus pandemic, in Amritsar. Schools are being opened as per guidel...
Potters make earthen lamps at their home workshop, ahead of the Diwali festival, in Amritsar. Diwali will be celebrated across the country on November 14.
A potter paints earthen lamps at her home workshop, ahead of the Diwali festival, in Amritsar. Diwali will be celebrated across the country on November 14.
Students attend a class after schools re-opened for classes 9-12 with certain restrictions, in Bathinda.
Paramedical staff, previously on COVID-19 duty, protest against Punjab government after they were allegedly dismissed from their duties, in Patiala district.
Students get their hands sanitised before entering a school after authorities allowed resumption of classes for senior students of class 9 to 12 with certain restrictions, in Bathi...
Farmers block rail tracks during their agitation over new farm laws, in Bathinda.
Members of various farmers organisations block a Reliance refilling station during a protest over the recent farm bills, in Amritsar district.
A farmer burns paddy stubble in a field, in Amritsar district. Farmers continue the practice, a contributor to air pollution in winter season, despite several steps taken by the go...
A farmer burns paddy stubble in a field, in Amritsar district. Farmers continue the practice, a contributor to air pollution in winter season, despite several steps taken by the go...
Farmers raise slogans as they stage 'Rail Roko' protest over the recent farm reform bills, at Devi Dass Pura village in Amritsar district.
Volunteer paramedics whose services have been terminated, stage a protest against the state government demanding regularisation of their jobs, in Amritsar.
Sangrur MP and Punjab AAP president Bhagwant Mann addresses a gathering during the 'Gram Sabha and Kisan Jagrukta Abhiyan' event against three agriculture-related acts at Bhalaiana...
Labourers carry sacks containing wheat grain, at a grain market in Amritsar district.
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What is the genesis of recent violence in Punjab and Haryana? Is it true that it all began in a Gurudwara (a Sikh temple) in Vienna?
Technically, the attack in Vienna was not in a gurudwara, but in a Gurdehera -- also commonly called a dera -- of the Dera Sachkand, a Ravidasi organisation. This is a new Ravidasi temple that has only recently been set-up on Rudolphsheim Street which also houses the only Gurudwara in the Austrian capital, which is said to be controlled by radicals loyal to Khalistan.
It is being suggested in some press versions, as in this Hindustan Times report, that "at the centre of the conflagration is a battle for the control of cash-rich overseas gurdwaras and an assertion of religious identity by Dalits who form roughly 29 per cent of Punjab’s three crore population. The new Ravidasi place of worship apparently took away a chunk of the offerings and the "tensions came to a head when visiting sect head Sant Niranjan Das was allegedly attacked by pro-Khalistani Sikhs" on Sunday, May 24. While Sant Niranjan Das, the sect-head, was injured, his second-in-command, Sant Ramanand, was fatally injured in the attack and the news of the latter's death on Monday ratcheted up the already inflamed passions of the Dera followers in Punjab and Haryana.
The ostensible reason for the attack in Vienna is said to be the alleged disrespect shown by the Dera leaders to the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book. But intelligence agencies are probing the possibilities of a larger conspiracy to stir up trouble between the Ravidasis and the Sikhs in India.
What exactly is Dera Sachkhand?...
