KHALISTAN MOVEMENT
At the summit itself, media reported that he was snubbed not just by India, but by other world leaders too. He also skipped the dinner for the G20 leaders on Saturday, with the Canadian prime minister’s office refusing to say why. PM Modi conveyed our strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada. They are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship.
THE KHALISTAN MOVEMENT:
The aim of this movement was to establish a buffer sovereign state of Punjab to be named Khalistan i.e. Land of the Khalsa. (Such a state existed in Punjab from 1709 to 1849)
The claimed state would have geographical proximity with Pakistan and J&K. Terrorism in Punjab thus had clear connections with Pakistan and the ISI.
HISTORICAL EVOLUTION
- 1947 Partition of India- A bitter memory for the sikhs.
- Punjabi Suba movement– A fight by the sikhs for a separate state for themselves.
- State Reorganisation Committees verdict: which rejected the demand of Akali Dal.
- Formation of Punjab (1966)
- Anandpur Sahib resolution: A demand for autonomy for the state of Punjab & a separate constitution for them.
THE MOVEMENT
The Anandpur Sahib resolution inspired Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale – a religious scholar who’d been travelling across Punjab advocating a return to the Khalsa or a more orthodox form of Sikhism.
He targeted Hindus and ‘modernised’ Sikhs, who cut their hair and consumed alcohol in equal measure.
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, inspired by the Khalistan ideology, led the Khalistan movement as an extremist movement and turned against the Indian government.
Demands for separate nation-hood for Punjab was carried out through violent protests and killings of high profile persons in the Indian government.
THE RISE AND FALL OF THE MOVEMENT
From early 1980s to early 1990s, Punjab went through a phase of wide-spread terrorism, where Pakistan’s ISI tried to foment the violence by providing support to extremist groups.
EXTREMIST GROUPS INVOLVED: Manifold extremist groups like the Khalistan Liberation Force, Khalistan Commando Force, Babbar Khalsa, Damdami Taksal and umpteen others gained prominence and roamed around freely across Punjab.
OPERATION BLUESTAR: Operation Blue Star was conducted to capture Bhindranwale in Golden Temple Complex. He, along with others, were neutralised by the Indian Army.
THE AFTERMATH OF OPERATION BLUESTAR
- Assasination of Indira Gandhi in 1984 followed by Delhi sikh riots.
- Blowing up of an Air India Flight coming from Canada (1985).
- Assasination of Ex Army Chief General AS Vaidya who led Operation Bluestar.
- Assasination of Punjab CM Beant Singh in 1995.
- Punjab Referendum 2020 In London.
- Support of the Khalistanis in the anti CAA/NRC protests and the farmer protests of 2021.
- Attacks on Indian Embassy & Officials in Canada.
