Also being sold are picture postcards of militant leaders killed during Operation Bluestar at the Golden Temple complex in 1984. And although the state has put militancy behind, many pilgrims are picking up these items.

One portrait shows Bhindrawale wielding an arrow, another painting depicts Operation Bluestar. For sale is a painting, titled Ghalughara 1984, showing Bhindranwale leading his followers to take on defence personnel marching inside the Golden Temple Complex. Each poster is priced between Rs 5 and Rs 10. Cassettes of vitriolic speeches made by Bhindranwale have already been sold out.

Speaking to The Indian Express, the general manager of the Taksal office at Amritsar, Bhai Malkit Singh justified the sale: ``The developments related to the 20th century are needed to betold to the Sikhs. Bhindranwale being a 20th century hero of the Sikh nation enjoys a special place in our hearts.''

Adding that the Taksal is only ``sharing history'' of recent times, Malkit Singh cited Bhindranwale's amrit parchar, which happens to be one of the highlights of the Khalsa tercentenary festivities. Equating Bhindranwale with freedom fighters, Malkit asked: ``Will anybody like the idea of notdisplaying the portraits of Shaheed Bhagat Singh?''

District police chief Jaskaran Singh said: ``They are free to display these posters. After all, people at individual level do the same.''

Referring to the cassettes being sold at the stall, Jaskaran Singh said: ``Unless I am sure that inflammatory literature is being sold, no legal action is possible.''

Meanwhile, head of the Taksal, Baba Thakur Singh, has reportedly decided to participate in the ``parallel festivities'' being organised by Badal's critic and former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra.