What is 1978 Sikh–Nirankari clashes?
{{orphan|date=March 2025}} On 13 April 1978, a [[violence|violent]] incident happened between the [[Sant Nirankari Mission]] and traditional [[Sikh]]s. This was at [[Amritsar]], [[Punjab, India]]. Sixteen people were killed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=[Sikh Nirankari Clash] {{!}} [PanjPedia]|url=https://panjpedia.org/en/wiki/english-1978-sikh-nirankari-clashes|access-date=2021-06-15|website=panjpedia.org|language=en|archive-date=2021-06-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616043159/https://panjpedia.org/en/wiki/english-1978-sikh-nirankari-clashes|url-status=dead}}</ref> This incident eventually led to [[Operation Blue Star]] and the [[Punjab insurgency]] in the 1980s. Clashes occurred when Akhand Kirtani Jatha and Damdami Taksal members led by Fauja Singh protested against and tried to stop a convention of Sant Nirankari Mission followers. This incident is considered to be a starting point in the events leading to Operation Blue Star and the 1980s insurgency in Punjab. The turning point in the Sikh-Nirankari relationship is believed to have come after Avtar Singh took over as the sect chief in 1943. He not only proclaimed himself “Satguru” but also introduced a book “Avtar Bani” and allegedly tried to copy Sikh symbols like starting the system of Sat Piare etc. He was successful in organising Nirankaris into a powerful sect. However, in his book “A History of The Sikhs”, Khushwant Singh noted that the fundamental difference between both was that the Nirankaris were worshiping gurus other than the 10 recognised by the Sikhs.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195673098.003.0014|title=A History of the Sikhs|last=Singh|first=Khushwant|date=2004-11-18|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-567309-8|pages=216–234|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195673098.003.0014 }}</ref> However, the conflict reached its peak on April 13, 1978. Activists of the Akhand Kirtni Jatha and Damdai Taksal marched towards the venue of a Nirankari convention in Amritsar. It led to a clash that left at l