Khalistan Movement is a Separatist Movement with main aim to create a Nation
State which would serve as a Homeland for Sikhs in Punjab Region Of Indian
Subcontinent. The proposed state would consist of land that currently
forms Punjab, India & Punjab, Pakistan.
Ever since the movement garnered support in1980s, the territorial ambitions of
Khalistan have at times included Chandigarh, Indian Punjab, including North
India & some parts of the western states. PM of Pak Zulfikar Ali Bhutto,
according Jagjit Singh Chohan had proposed all out help to create Khalistan
during his talks with Chohan, following the conclusion of
the Indo Pak War of 1971 which resulted in creation of Bangladesh.
The call for a separate Sikh state began in wake of the fall of the British
Rule. In 1940, the first explicit call for Khalistan was made in a pamphlet
titled "Khalistan". With financial & political support of Sikh diaspora, the
movement flourished in the Indian state of Punjab — with Sikh majority
population , continuing through the 1970s & reaching zenith in the late 1980s.
In 1990s, insurgency ended & the movement failed due to heavy police crackdown
on separatists, factional fighting, & loss of support.
Historical Background
Sikhs have been concentrated in the Punjab Region of South Asia. Before its
conquest by the British, the region around Punjab had been ruled by the
confederacy of 12 Sikh Misls founded by Banda Singh Bahadur. These Misls
controlled Punjab region after defeating Mughals & Afghans from 1767 to
1799, until their unification in the Sikh Empire by Maharaja Ranjit Singh from
1799 to 1849.
In 1849, the Sikh Empire dissolved into separate princely states & the Punjab
Province of British India. As a result of the British policy of divide & rule,
which involved differentiating & dividing Indians.
British Indian Empire began to weaken in 1930s, Sikh Leadership come
with demand of Separate Sikh Nation. When the Lahore Resolution of Muslim
League demanded Punjab be made into Pakistan, the Akalis viewed it as an attempt
to usurp historically Sikh territory. In response, Shiromani Akali Dal argued
for a community that was separate from Hindus & Muslims.
British India was partitioned on religious basis in 1947, where the Punjab
province was divided between India & Pakistan.
As result, a majority of Sikhs,
along Hindus, migrated from Pakistani region to India's Punjab, which included
present-day Haryana & Himachal Pradesh. The Sikh population dropped to 0.1% in
Pakistan which was 19.1 % at partition & rose in the districts assigned to
India.
Then Akali Dal demanded a Punjabi speaking Suba on basis of language, which
resulted into decade long agitation. Punjab was reorganized in 1966 with
creation of Haryana & Chandigarh UT . With The Green Revolution in India, Punjab
State was the frontrunner to implement in agriculture & to make India Self
Sufficient in Foodgrains with contribution of other states.
This created issue
to farmers who faced difficulties due to new techniques in Agriculture caused by
Green Revolution , So Farmer Movement started at that time. Shiromani Akali Dal was
defeated in the 1972 Assembly Elections. To regain public appeal, SAD put
forward the Anandpur Resolution in 1973 to demand division of power & further
autonomy to Punjab. The Resolution consisted of Religious & Political Demands
which also included to Transfer of Chandigarh & other areas back to Punjab.
It
also demanded that power be radically divided from Centre to State & also a
creation of River Water Tribunal to decide sharing Of River Water of Sutlej,
Beas, Ravi Rivers with Non Riparian States like Haryana & Rajasthan which was
being shared unjust by Central Govt with creations of Canals like S.Y.L Canal ,
IG Canal , BML Canal etc from Punjab.
GoI termed it as separatist document which led to Insurgency in Punjab. During
this militancy in Punjab Innocents were being killed by militants & communal
tension rose in Punjab & leader of Damdami Taksal Jarnail Singh Bhindranwala
gained popularity & he favoured Anandpur Resolution which talked about these
demands. Killings of innocent was happening on the name of Khalistan & to curb
this GoI ordered Army Action against Bhindranwala & his armed supporters in
Golden Temple Complex codenamed Operation Blue Star in June 1984 which hurted
the sentiments of Sikhs worldwide.
As Consequence Indira Gandhi was assassinated
by her bodyguards which resulted into anti sikh riots of Nov 1984 also known as
Sikh Genocide. After this all , Insurgency was at peak. Innocent were being
killed by militants. In 1992 INC won Punjab Assembly Elections & Beant Singh
became CM of Punjab. He ordered to curb militancy under DGP K.P.S. Gill.
Till
1995 Insurgency ended from Punjab but with mass violations of human rights by
Punjab Police in form of extra-judicial killings. Jaswant Singh Khalra , a
human rights activist who exposed lists of 25000 unclaimed dead bodies of
persons killed in extra – judicial killings by Punjab Police , was assassinated
by Police personnels who were later sentenced to Life Imprisonment by the
court.
Myth & Real Fact
The basic cause of this was British policy of divide & rule. After enactment of
Indian Constitution , a claim was made & spreaded that Sikhs are being clubbed &
included as a part of Hinduism under
Article 25(2)(b) which ambiguously explains that "the reference to Hindus shall be construed as including a reference to persons professing the Sikh, Jaina, Buddhist religion.”
If the constitution makers had COMMUNAL IDEA then Why they added Article 25(1)
while implicitly recognizing Sikhism as distinct religion states "the wearing
and carrying of kripans shall be deemed to be included in the profession of the
Sikh religion.”
Which is a very clear & contradicting answers to the separatists on the name of
Khalistan as Sikhism is recognised as religion in Article 25(1).
So this spreaded misunderstanding claim has resulted in hate & in loss of
life.
Article 25(2)(b) was added for purpose of some laws enacted by Parliament to
enforce them on 4 Religions i.e. Sikhs , Hindus, Buddhist & Jains by including
them into wider Umbrella Term Hindu
Farmers Protest
In ongoing farmer agitation , some miscreants raised Pro Khalistan slogans
through which media started to malign peaceful protest as separatist which is
totally wrong. The Farmers Protest isn't
Sikhs v/s India . This all is used by
Sikhs For Justice a banned organization by Indian Govt. who is using it for it's
vested interests & creating divide b/w Sikhs & fellow Indians which against
the core values of Sikhism & also by the media & politicians to end this
peaceful protest.
But recent Mishap at The Red Fort on Republic Day added fuel to tensions. As
Farm Unions gave a call of Tractor March which was given permission by Delhi
Police. As Police put restrictions enroute , they started to remove those
restrictions & change of the route of rally. As a result protesting people got
divided & without an elder leader reached Red Fort.
Where they approached inside
& some miscreants under the influence of Actor Deep Sidhu & Lakha Sidhana
hoisted Kesari Nishan Sahib & Farmer Union Flag at The Ramparts of Red Fort.
Which caused insult & shame on republic day, however situation was controlled &
some violence reported with police.
This Act of hoisting religious flags was
totally wrong & idiotic as India is democratic State & National Flag's respect
is supreme. Some Communist Red Flags were also tried to hoist. Farmer Leaders &
Politicians condemned this act. In 1783 Sikh victory on Mughals, Nishan Sahib
was hoisted but now circumstances are different & this is totally wrong.
Author's View
This Issue is a bogus issue with no popular support now & Separatists in abroad
are against peace & integrity of India.
I condemn this idiotic act of disgrace to National Flag & India. The Govt.
Should Arrest & Investigate all culprits responsible & Govt must try to
Extradite Banned S.F.J. chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun who keeps announcing money
on doing the tasks of creating unrest in India & many of his aides based in USA,
UK, Canada.
Sikhs hold much respectful position in world, Let's aware people about it &
prevent to tarnish the good image of Sikhism & expose these mental retards with
vested interests & beware of mixing religion with politics as Khalistan issue is
a result of all this & This issue now has very less support but mainly from
Foreigners who are also demanding Justice To 1984 Sikh Genocide Victims.
If The
Government is successful in giving justice to the victims which has started with
the Life Imprisonment Sentence awarded to Congress Leader Sajjan Kumar as he
instigated the violence & Many More responsible for it. Also Independent
Tribunal should be created for River Water Allocation according To The Int'l
Riparian Water Laws.
References:
-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalistan_movement#:~:text=The%20Khalistan%20movement%20is%20a,%22Land%20of%20the%20Pure%22
- Constitution Of India
PDF http://legislative.gov.in/constitution-of-india
- Constitution Of India Bare Act, Lexis Nexis Publications
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