KHALISTAN: A MIRAGE OR REALITY?

Despite concerted efforts by the Sikh Diaspora and Pakistan's ISI to revive the Khalistan movement, there are few takers of the idea in Punjab

- VAISHALI BASU SHARMA

On February 23 radical Sikh separatist Amritpal Singh Sandhu (30) stormed the Ajnala police station in Amritsar accompanied by hundreds of supporters and clashed with police, protesting the arrest of one of his associates. A “wannabe Bhindranwale” has stoked fears of the revival of the Sikh separatist movement or Khalistan-related extremism, with a pronounced anti-India agenda. ‘Waris Punjab De’ itself catapulted to popularity among

Sikhs after it mobilised farmers and activists against the Union Government’s agricultural laws. But even after the revocation, Waris Punjab De continued a campaign to promote Sikh separatism, with new leader Amritpal Singh embarking on numerous preaching tours advocating for the revival of the Khalistan movement and glorifying the use of violence and weapons during public events. Amritpal was eventually arrested on April 23 after absconding and being on the run for 35 days.

The sudden outburst of Sikh radicalism witnessed earlier this year, has been surprising and has revived painful memories of a bloody insurgency that killed thousands.

From the time it started as a minor movement for Sikh home rule in the 1960s to the present day the so-called Khalistan movement has witnessed various phases, and throughout the role of emigre Sikhs has remained central to the crusade. Today we are witnessing a renewed and re-invigorated secessionist sentiment among the second generation of immigrant Sikhs especially in the UK and Canada.

Ethno-Territoriality and Expression of ‘Punjab’ as Homeland