It is impossible not to be struck by the government's relatively muted reaction to the call by the four high priests of the Akal Takht to the Sikh masses to lend their full support to the Sikh militants "in order to free themselves from the shackles of slavery". The statement, issued from the Golden Temple on September 9, accused the government of destroying the traditions and honour of the Sikhs by killing Sikh youth in false encounters and by desecrating their places of worship. The government's response to the priests' open declaration of support for the terrorists