“Terrorism of khalistan”

Dr. Manpreet

Tanishq Malhotra

Abstract

“This research paper intends to study

about the khalistan issues, the demand of
khalistan who started it why it was
started, the paper also talks about the
spread of terrorism through khalistan
movements. And at the end some
suggestions are provided to solve the
issue”

1.1 Introduction

Khalistan means land of ‘Khalsa’ which means pure. It can also be said as Sikh’s home land.
The word Khalsa was declared by Guru Gobind Singh ji in 1699 with this the Sikhs imagined
that it is god given right to us to rule over Punjab. The belief was that the khalsa should rule.
In 1947 the group of Khalistan’s proposed an idea of an independent state of Sikhs but due to
less Sikhs population, less numerical strength in relation with other residents of Punjab made
that unviable proposition.

Further in 1970s and 80s a movement was started to make Khalistan. it was started by Sant
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and was being supported by All India Sikh Students’ Federation.
The movement failed many times due to some complex rules. But the demand of Khalistan
was increasing day by day

Sant JarnailSinghBhindranwale was a Sikh religious leader and a revolutionary in whose

violent campens for the Sikh state of Punjab. in 1982 Bhindranwale started a campen in
Harminder sahib gurdwara also known as the golden temple where he stocked different
weapons also he gathered with some same minded people. But in 1984 Indra Gandhi ordered
Indian troops to enter the golden temple and to break this campen, during this many Sikhs
died including Bhindranwale for many Sikhs he died as a martyr.
1.2Literature review

A literature review is a piece of academic writing that demonstrated knowledge and grasp of
the academic literature on a particular topic in context. a critical examination of material is
also included in literature review that is why it called as literature review.

Review of articles; for completing the research the researcher has analysed some articles.

1. Rajshree JetlyTHE KHALISTAN MOVEMENT IN INDIA: The Interplay of Politics

and State PowerInternational Review of Modern Sociology Vol. 34, No. 1 (Spring
2008), pp. 61-75 (15 pages) Published by: International Journals. In this article it
examines the rise of Khalistan movement in 1980 and its decline in 1992 and majorly
the political aspects.
2. SIKH DIASPORA AND THE MOVEMENT FOR KHALISTANShinder Purewal the
Indian Journal of Political Science Vol. 72, No. 4 (OCT - DEC., 2011), pp. 1131-1142
(12 pages) Published by: Indian Political Science Association. In this article they
focus on the movement of Khalistan. what are the reason for the demand of a different
state? Is the Sikh community against the Indian state?
3. The Khalistan Movement in Punjab, India, and the Post-Militancy Era: Structural
Change and New Political CompulsionsVirginia Van DykeAsian Survey, Vol. 49, No.
6 (November/December 2009), pp. 975-997 (23 pages). In these articles they analyse
the reasons for the growth of militancy in the association and what was the political
aspects in the Khalistan movement.
4. Demand for KhalistanSahdev Vohra Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 21, No. 40
(Oct. 4, 1986), pp. 1738-1739 (2 pages). In this articles they are trying to understand
that why is Sikh community demanding for a Khalistan what are their problem.
5. The Politics of Sikh Identity: Understanding Religious Exclusion Paramjit S. Judge
and Manjit Kaur Sociological Bulletin Vol. 59, No. 3 (September-December 2010),
pp. 345-366 (22 pages) Publishedby: Sage Publications, Ltd. In this article they
examined the political and religious aspect in the formation of Khalistan and for the
demand of Khalistan.
1.3Research methodology

The research takes a doctrinal approach. The information originates from variety of sources
such as books, articles, journals, web sites and so on. The topic has been critically
overviewed and anin-depth research has been done. The researcher concentrates on the study
of analytical procedure.

1.4 Discussion

1.4.1 Demands of Khalistan

Khalistan term is used to refer the independent Sikh state in Punjab. The concept of Khalistan
came in existence in 1970s and 1980s as a response in discrimination towards the Sikh
community in India. The supporters of Khalistan argue for a separate nation for Sikh based
different religious, cultural, historical identity. They claim that the Sikhs should have their
own sovernstate where they could exercise their own rule. The demand of Khalistan came in
existence in 1980s when there was discrimination happening against the Sikh community. It
is important to note that the demand of Khalistan is not supported all over the world within
the Sikhcommunity. Some of the Sikhs accept todays frame work as it is but some of them
supports the idea of Khalistan. the Indian government does not recognise the need of
Khalistan but they treat it as a separatist movement. The government is taking measures to
give equal rights and opportunities to the Sikh community to dissolve the matter.

1.4.2 Where did Khalistan stands in present time

As we can observe that Khalistan movement is on piece now days but it is still present in
some Sikhs. The Sikhs who supports the Khalistan movement in present time are those
people who thinks that Bhindranwale was an idol for them to the people who are from the
1980s era and that had a great impact on their mind. That era was known as the dark era in
the Sikhs community. But those who have understood that the demand of Khalistan is
irrelevant has now left fighting for it. In the present time the politics have a vital role in
demand for Khalistan. The politicians are taking benefit of the violence happens to gather the
votes.
While there exists only a small minority of people who support the demand of Khalistan but
the political influence is increasing day by day they are existing only for the political
influence over them one of them was also Amritpal Singh.

1.4.3Amritpal Singh: who is he?

Amritpal Singh is aself-proclaimed preacher he is very famous in controversies regarding

Khalistan. He was relatively un known until the death of actor and activist deep Sidhu. As
Sidhu was a supporter of farmer’s movement hand he has founded waris Punjab de a group
that aimed to protect the rights of a farmer and he fights for the rights of the Sikh as well. He
was also the supporter of Khalistan. Subsequently Sidhu died in a car accident. After his
death amritpal Singh has taken over his position he stated a kind of battle against the Hindus
or Narrainder Modi. Earlier he was unknown but after some lectures and rally he got famous
among the society.

Amritpal Singh in an interview compared himself with the JarnailBhindranwale who was the
leader of Khalistan in 1980s. he was the one who started a campen in golden temple but he
was shot dead by the army on the order of the prime minister miss indra Gandhi. In his last
interview he has also taken shots on Amit shah threatening him for talking about Khalistan in
his interview.

In recent because of some false action taken by amritpal Singh. Towards the community he
has been arrested. He was making illegal khalistani currency, a map of Khalistan was also
found from him and he was having unlicensed arms and ammunition in his house. he had an
illegalshooting range in his backyard. he was training some people. Looks like he was
preparing for a war against the India. After the arrest of Amrit pal Singh from moga he was
taken to the Dibrugarh jail which is at high security these days1

But people like amritpal Singh works for the politics secretly. The create nuisance in the
society that helps politician make a good image in the society by resolving them. These
people allocate funds for the political party. In return they get to do their work and they also
get some illegal resource and the politicians provide a protection against the law.

1.4.4 The constitution of India not allows any state to separate from the
union.

1
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/amritpal-singh-arrested-live-updates-
khalistan-waris-punjab-de-8571093/
As in the preamble of India it is stating the unity and integrity of the nation. And which is not
amendable, same in the constitution article 1 to 4 of part 1 talks about the union and
territories were it is clearly stated that India is a union of states. The articles state that new
states can be formed with in the territories and India can allocate new area under their vision
but the separation of state from its union is not allowed. Dr BR Amb edkar mentioned that
federation is a part of constitution but federation was not the part of agreement between the
states. So the states have no power to separate them self from the union. The separation
between the boundaries is permitted under the constitution for better administration and for
betterment of the state. So same we can consider khalistan cannot be given different status
because it is not permitted under law that state gets separated from its union.

1.4.5 Judicial approach

Esher Singh vs. State of Andhra Pradesh

This case was in the supreme court of India it was decided by 3 metabolite session judge
which is designated court under the terrorist and disruptive activates act 1987.

It was found that nine persons were responsible for the death of one Joga Singh. He has
established many Sikh institutions like Gurunanak hospital, Gurunanak school gurunanak
school Hyderabad, etc. The accused was intended to take over those institutions because for
the promotion of khalistan movement. He was a great supporter of Jarnail Singh
bhindranwala. He used to be in the force at the time of operation blue star but after the death
of bhindranwala he left the force and decided to support the khalistan movement. He was
made guilty of murder and was guilty under TADA Act. He was serving a terrorist
organization. Later he was punished.

1.4.6 Promoting terrorism

In the earlier time the khalistan movement was taken up as a social movement but in today’s
time if someone rises voice for the demand of khalistan it more sounds like a terrorist group
because of the involvement of political parts, armouries and the attack done by the khalistan
supporters the threats given to the Indian government that release us or we will do this then it
is more predicted as a terrorist group. The international Sikh organisation is supported tem
many students are being or moving to international country’s so that they can support the
movements without much direct involment. In countries like Canada there are my khalistan
supports which are supporting the needs and they are the ones who are threatening the Indian
government for upcoming several attacks. One of the major reasons of the promotion of
khalistan and there threats somewhere it is being affected by the Indian as well as
international politics.

The Indian politics provides the group leaders funds and order them to create nuisance in the
country so it will affect the votes in the elections the weapons are some where provided by
the politicians so that they get the power to win the elections.

1.5 conclusions

As it has been seen that the khalistan issue is more affected by the politics in India it has been
always part of country’s discussion in present if we see khalistan is more like a terrorist
organization because they have done anything in the favour of society it is also in the view
that there are many khalistan movement leaders came and went but nothing changed in the
society. The general public is also aware about the circumstances and the events happening in
the society to promote khalistan.

1.6 suggestions

In my point of view the government should take strict action against the leaders who are
threatening of the attacks that might happen and the demand for the khalistan should be
directly abolished and some measures should be taken such as –

1. Actions should be taken against the politicians who are supporting the khalistan
organisations.
2. The demand for the khalistan should be strictly prohibited.
3. Actions should be taken to the persons who are threatening the government of Indian.
4. Actions should be strictly taken to the leaders of khalistan community from foreign
countries.
5. There should be new laws or there should be an amendment that should clearly state
that no state can separate himself from its union.