By Saima Afzal
India is considered the world’s largest democracy and a secular state. The population distribution includes Hindus at 79.8%, Muslims at 14.2%, Sikhs at approximately 1.7%, Christians at 2.3%, Buddhists at 0.7%, Jains at 0.4%, and other religions comprising the remaining percentage of the population. However, since independence in India, no followers of any single religion have demanded a separate homeland except for Sikhs, who are supported and sponsored by the Sikh diaspora in Canada, the UK, and other European states. Therefore, to address the recent resurgence of demands for a separate homeland by Sikhs abroad requires a robust and goodwill-driven strategy from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, now elected for the third time.
Pro-Khalistan and Anti-India Protest in Paris by Sikh Diaspora
On June 24, 2024, a pro-Khalistan and anti-India protest organized by Sikh diaspora in Paris. The protesters asserted that thousands of Sikhs were extra-judicially killed during the military operation initiated on June 2, 1984, at the holiest Sikh shrine in Amritsar. However, no inquiry or justice has been offered to the families of the victims. They called on the European Union, United Nations, and France to help them achieve justice for these unlawful killings in India. They declared Khalistan a reality and vowed to reclaim their rights from India.
The Khalistan Movement: Origins and Goals
The Khalistan movement is a Sikh separatist initiative aiming to establish an independent homeland for Sikhs by creating a sovereign state called Khalistan (“Land of the Pure”) in the Punjab region of India. The concept of a separate homeland for Sikhs dates back to the 1947 partition of the subcontinent. Some Sikh leaders advocated for an independent nation, but this idea did not materialize, and Punjab was divided between India and Pakistan. In India, Sikhs felt marginalized within the Hindu-majority country, resulting in demands for greater autonomy and recognition of their distinct identity.
Anandpur Sahib Resolution
As a result, in 1973, the Shiromani Akali Dal, a prominent Sikh political party, adopted the Anandpur Sahib Resolution which demanded greater autonomy for Punjab and recognition of Sikh religious and cultural identity. This resolution is considered a precursor to the Khalistan movement. The movement gained momentum in the 1980s, with some groups turning to militancy to achieve their goals. This period saw significant violence, including attacks by militant groups, crackdowns by security forces, and widespread human rights abuses.
Operation Blue Star and its effects
Therefore, in 1984, the Indian government launched Operation Blue Star to flush out militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar, which led to significant loss of life and damage to the holy site. This operation deeply alienated many Sikhs and intensified the demand for Khalistan. Consequently, the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards in retaliation for Operation Blue Star led to anti-Sikh riots in which thousands of Sikhs were killed, further deepening the community’s grievances.
Insurgency and Decline
Following Operation Blue Star and the anti-Sikh riots, Punjab witnessed a period of insurgency and violence in the 1980s and early 1990s. Various Sikh militant groups, such as the Khalistan Commando Force and Babbar Khalsa, carried out attacks against security forces and civilians in pursuit of Khalistan. Today, the Khalistan movement has limited active support within Punjab, but it still exists among certain diaspora communities, particularly in Canada, the UK, and the US. Currently, advocacy for Khalistan is mostly peaceful, focusing on political and cultural campaigns rather than armed struggle. In 1995, Chief Minister of Punjab Beant Singh was assassinated by a human bomb, leading to a crackdown on Sikh militant groups and a decline in the violence associated with the Khalistan movement. These events have played a crucial role in shaping the Khalistan movement’s history and its impact on the Sikh community in India.
The Khalistan Referendum
On 31 October 2021, the Khalistan Referendum, initiated by Sikh diaspora groups, aims to gauge global Sikh support for an independent state, Khalistan, in Punjab, India. Conducted by pro-Khalistan organizations outside India, it seeks to highlight Sikh grievances and aspirations for self-determination. Organized by groups like Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), it involves diaspora Sikhs voting on Khalistan’s establishment, claiming to offer a democratic and peaceful expression of their desire for a separate state, despite lack of Indian government recognition
Indian Government’s Opposition
The Indian government strongly opposes the Khalistan Referendum, considering it a threat to national unity and sovereignty. It has banned groups like Sikhs for Justice and implemented legal and diplomatic measures to counter referendum activities, citing security concerns and the potential for violence. In contrast, supporters of the referendum argue it is a legitimate exercise of democratic rights and self-determination for Sikhs, highlighting historical grievances and advocating for autonomy and representation. However, critics, including analysts, view the referendum as divisive and not representative of the majority of Sikhs, especially those in Punjab, emphasizing the importance of unity and peaceful coexistence in a diverse India.
Challenges and Current State of the Movement
The Khalistan movement faces significant challenges in achieving success, primarily due to its opposition to India, a robust democratic state with substantial military and economic strength. When the militancy finally ended in the late 1990s, Punjab prospered as an agricultural state and became India’s primary supplier of staple food grains. Furthermore, Sikhs hold positions not only within the Indian parliament but also working in other administrative posts. The Indian government possesses experience in managing internal uprisings, as seen in Kashmir. India also garners strong support from the United Nations and the European Union. As a result, aspirations for Sikh community demands such as Khalistan may remain unrealized and disconnected from current realities.
Way forward for India- Sikh Diaspora Relations
It is the right time for the Indian government to take these steps to foster peaceful relations with the Sikh diaspora: –
- Establishing formal and informal dialogue platforms to facilitate discussions between Indian authorities and Sikh representatives on issues of autonomy, rights, and identity.
- Promoting cultural exchanges and showcasing Sikh heritage and contributions to Indian society to foster mutual respect and understanding.
- Addressing legal and political reforms to ensure protection of minority rights and equitable representation for Sikhs within Indian institutions.
- Strengthening human rights advocacy to address past atrocities and ensure accountability for violations, including cases of disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
In a nutshell, India can face potential disintegration in the future if the Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not alter its biased policies against minorities. This is a crucial moment for the Indian government to initiate dialogue with moderate Sikh leaders and organizations to resolve grievances and foster peace and unity within the Sikh community.
*The author is a Research Scholar and Analyst; M. Phil in Peace and Conflict Studies from National Defence University Islamabad, Pakistan. Email: sarahamidkhan21@gmail.com
