Khalistan Separatist Movement, History, and Major Incidents

The Khalistan Separatist Movement:

The khalistan separatist movement routinely grasps people's attention worldwide, especially in the South-Asian region. It is a Sikh separatist movement active in foreign lands, like Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia backed by Pakistan Interservices Intelligence Agency [ISI]. 

Khalistan Movement [Credit-Usanas]

Khalistan is a term of two words Khalis + Stan, which stands for 'pure +land' or 'free+ land.' It is also called 'the land of the Khalsa.'

Khalistanis want a separate homeland based on ethno-religious identity. They wanted to create an independent nation-state to be carved out from Indian Punjab. The proposed boundaries of Khalistan vary between different groups and also include region of Pakistan.

The Khalistan Separatist Movement and Its History:

The Khalistan movement has a history back to pre-independence India. The British Imperial Government wanted to divide the Hindu and Sikh communities based on religious practices like Hindu and Muslim, and the government was successful there. 

Khalistan Map [Credit-The Express]

However, the Khalistan movement emerged in the 1940s but gained momentum in the 1970s. One major reason is the Sikh community was the most active and martyred community during the Indian Indepenadnce movement. However, it was also the worst affected community during the partition of India.

The Emergence of the Khalistan Separatist Movement:

The khalistan movement emerged again and gained momentum in the decade of 1970 after adopting the Anandpur Sahib Resolution. The resolution was adopted by the Shiromani Akali Dal [SAD], a political party that represents the Sikh community. 

Khalistan Separatists [Credit-The Washington Post]

The resolution demanded the creation of a federal structure in India just like more autonomy for Punjab. The extremist faction under the Babbar Khalsa and the Khalistan Liberation Force [KLF] wanted to achieve their goal by resorting to violence and terrorism.  

The Major incidents that fueled the Khalistani Separatist movement:

The Khalistan Liberation Force wanted to create a Khalistan state with violent means. They started attacking the big-profile figures of the Hindu and different sects of the Sikh community, like Lala Jagat Narayana and Nirankaris. The Governments of Punjab and India imploded to start taking tough actions.

Major Incidents of Khalistan Movements [Credit-Study IQ]

1). The Anadpur Sahib Resolution [1973] demanded the radical devolution of power and further autonomy to Punjab.

2). Akali Dal and Jarnail Singh Bhinranwale joined hands in 1982 to implement the resolution "the Dharam Yudh Morcha."

3). The killing of six Hindu bus passengers incident in October 1983 after which emergency rule was imposed. 

4). The year 1984 from 1 January to 1 June saw 775 cases of violence that resulted in 298 killings.

5). Operation Blue Star [June 1984] when the Indian Army cracked down heavily on militarised [Kharku] khalistani supporters to vacate the Golden Temple.

6). The assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi [October 1984] in her house by personal security [Sikh] guards.

7). The riots all over India, especially in Delhi, after the Prime Minister's assassination.

However, the Khalistani movement has lost its credibility in India and abroad as well. But some secessionist groups with the help of an anti-India agenda try to fuel it, like Referendum by Sikh for Justice.  

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