Spurned Sikh Separatists Rebuild in the West

• The demand for Khalistan gained momentum in the late 1970s, supported by Pakistan, resulting in violent attacks and a state of emergency in Punjab.
• The movement led to a crackdown by the Indian army in the Golden Temple and the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984.
• While the Khalistani movement represents a fringe element of the Sikh community, it has received support from the Sikh diaspora in Western countries.
• Pakistan has provided financial and organizational support to Khalistanis, leading to acts of vandalism and violence against Indian institutions and temples in Western countries.
• Recent incidents of Khalistani violence have increased due to desperation caused by Pakistan’s instability and declining funding sources. 

Sikh Separatism in India

The concept of Khalistan – an ostensible sovereign Sikh state – can be traced back to the Sikh empire that reached its zenith in the middle of the nineteenth century. The empire quickly dissipated after its dynamic ruler, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, died in 1839. Its territory was absorbed into the British colonial empire following its defeat in the 1849 Anglo-Sikh War.

As Pakistan was being carved out of India in 1947, Sikhs began dreaming of a country of their own. However, with brutal atrocities against Sikhs in Pakistan and their resettlement in India, the demand for a separate Sikh state subsided.

The Sikh separatist movement under the Khalistan banner reared its ugly head in the late 1970s with support from Pakistan. Khalistani militants attacked Indian political institutions in Punjab— including police personnel and politicians,[1] killing thousands of civilians and leading to a state of emergency in Punjab. The terrorist leader Bhindranwale moved his men and advanced weaponry into the Sikhs’ holiest shrine – the Golden Temple, compelling the Indian army to launch a crackdown in which the top Khalistani leaders, including Bhindranwale, were eliminated. Events culminated in October 1984 in the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, leading to widespread anti-Sikh violence, with Indira Gandhi’s son and successor, Rajiv Gandhi, and his political cronies allegedly playing lynchpin roles.

The excesses committed by the Khalistani terrorists and their links with Pakistan-based terrorist organizations ultimately resulted in their near-complete extinction in India – both physically and ideologically. However, they continued to find safe havens in Western countries, often pretending to be victims of oppression at the hands of the Indian state.

Fringe Group… Barking at the Wrong Tree

It is widely known that the Khalistan movement represents a fringe element of the Sikh community in India. According to a 2021 Pew Research report, [2] “A near-universal share of Sikhs say they are very proud to be Indian (95%), and the vast majority (70%) say a person who disrespects India cannot be a Sikh.” Even among the Sikh diaspora, only a small fraction supports the separatist movement.[3] However, it is the vociferous extremist minority that receives all the media coverage and has succeeded in intimidating the majority into silence.

Another rarely discussed fact is that the 19^th-century Sikh empire, which serves as the presumptive basis of the independent Sikh homeland, was centered in Lahore in modern-day Pakistan. Therefore, the demand for a separate Sikh state to be carved out of modern-day India is a silly case of barking at the wrong tree!

Separatism in the Sikh Diaspora

Sikhs have migrated in large numbers to British Commonwealth countries, USA and Germany. Some have amassed small fortunes and political clout. Between 1980 and 1984, a “Republic of Khalistan” in London founded by Jagjit Singh Chohan set up embassies, collected funds from Sikhs in the UK, Canada, Germany, and the USA, and supported Bhindranwale’s demand for an independent Khalistan. Meanwhile, the extremist elements in the West continued their terrorist activities, including airplane hijackings[4], random civilian killings[5],[6], and assassinations of political leaders.[7]

In 1997, the so-called Council on Khalistan in Washington DC lobbied Congress to pass sanctions against India because of “terrorism against Punjab”; the resolution was debated but never passed.

In Canada, the National Democratic Party, a left-leaning national political party, is headed by a Khalistani. In the U.S., organizations like Sikhs for Justice provide physical and financial support to separatists in India or join any sort of civic action involving Sikhs.

Pakistan, as part of its multiprong strategy of “bleeding India with a thousand cuts,” has been providing financial and organizational support to the Khalistan movement for decades.[8,9] Two Khalistani organizations – Babbar Khalsa International and International Sikh Youth Foundation are designated entities[10] by the U.S. State Department.

Pakistan’s sponsorship of Khalistan sympathizers is suspected to be behind several acts of vandalism against Hindu temples and Indian government buildings. In 2019, Khalistani organizations protested outside the Indian High Commission in London and attacked Indians with swords[11]. The Indian high commission was subject to vandalism[12] throughout September 2019, including protests planned on Diwali.[13]

However, as Pakistan’s economy teeters on the edge of collapse, the Khalistanis find themselves in a do-or-die situation. Seeing their primary funding source rapidly drying up, they are desperate to show some quick wins to justify their existence.

The Recent Surge

Desperation caused by Pakistan’s instability and uncertain future is the primary reason for the recent surge in Khalistani violence. Although aided and abetted by Pakistan, these operations are hosted in Western countries.

Here we list nearly two dozen incidents of vandalism or violent demonstrations by Khalistan gangs from September 2022 through March 2023. Most of these incidents have occurred in three major epicenters of the separatist movement: Canada, the U.K., and Australia. It is nothing short of ironic that these countries have allowed Khalistan terrorism to fester in their respective backyards while spending copious amounts of taxpayer money to fight terrorism elsewhere.

• Sep 15, 2022: BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Toronto was defaced with anti-India and pro-Khalistani messaging. Toronto police investigating reports of vandalism at Hindu temple | CBC News
• Jan 12, 2023: Entrance of a BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Melbourne was vandalized with anti-Hindu graffiti such as “Hindustan Murdabad.” Melbourne Hindu temple attacked and vandalised by Khalistan supporters – The Australia Today
• Jan 16, 2023: Shri Shiva Vishnu temple in Melbourne was vandalized with anti-India messages. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.firstpost.com/world/hindus-under-attack-in-australia-shivavishnu-temple-attacked-just-days-aftervandalism-at-another-khalistanis-suspect-12000222.html/amp
• Jan 23, 2023: ISKCON/Hare Krishna temple in Melbourne was vandalized with anti-India messages. https://m.tribuneindia.com/news/diaspora/thirdhindu-temple-vandalised-in-australias-victoriastate-within-fortnight-report-473015
• Jan 25,2 023: Maa Chintpurni Mandir in Brampton was broken into; the temple’s security footage shows a man stealing the donation box. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/hindutemples-peel-break-in-1.6346570
• Jan 29, 2023: Khalistanis, armed with swords, attacked peaceful protesters holding Indian flags at the Federation Square in Melbourne. Five people were injured and hospitalized. Khalistani supporters attack Indian students during referendum in Australia’s Melbourne; 2 arrested | World News – India TV (indiatvnews.com)
• Jan 31, 2023: Gauri Shankar temple in Brampton was vandalized. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/canada-templegraffiti-sikhs-for-justice-b2272599.html%3famp
• Feb 14, 2023: Ram temple in Mississauga was vandalized with anti-Hindu graffiti. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbctv18.com/world/canada-hindu-temple-ram-mandirvandalised-mississauga-anti-india-graffiti-ontario-15940741.htm/amp
• Feb 18, 2023: Khalistanis raised pro-Khalistan and anti-India slogans outside the Indian High Commission in London. In London, Khalistani supporters raise anti-India slogans outside Indian High Commission | U.K. News (republicworld.com)
• Feb 20, 2023: Khalistanis gathered outside the Indian Consulate in Vancouver, Canada, holding Khalistani flags, shouting slogans, and demanding the release of Sikhs in prison in India. Pro-Khalistan slogans raised in Canada; Protests outside Indian consulate in Vancouver | Rest of the World News (republicworld.com)
• Feb 21, 2023: Khalistanis targeted the Consulate of India in Brisbane, Australia. The Khalistani flag was raised in the office. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-ofworld/report-indian-consulate-in-brisbane-targeted-bysupporters-of-khalistan/articleshow/98223205.cms
• March 4, 2023: Shree Laxmi Narayan temple was vandalized in Brisbane, Australia by alleged Khalistani supporters. https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/hindutemple-vandalised-walls-defaced-with-graffiti-inaustralias-brisbane-2342473-2023-03-04
• Mar 15, 2023: Khalistanis gathered around the Consulate of India in Brisbane, Australia, blocking the entry and causing the Consulate to close down. Khalistan supporters wreak havoc in Australia, force shutdown of Indian Consulate in Brisbane (dnaindia.com)
• Mar 19, 2023: Khalistanis took down the Indian flag outside the Indian High Commission in London and replaced it with the Khalistani flag. Indian flag replaced with Khalistan flag at Indian High Commission in London (geo.tv)

• Mar 19, 2023: Khalistanis attacked the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, broke down barriers and planted two Khalistani flags. Khalistanis attack Indian Consulate in San Francisco; protest in Canberra | World News – Hindustan Times
• Mar 19, 2023: Journalist Sameer Kaushal was abused and assaulted by Khalistanis protesting in Surrey, Vancouver, Canada. https://globalnews.ca/news/9565072/surrey-protestassault-punjab-crackdown/

• Mar 22, 2023: Khalistan supporters gathered outside the Indian High Commission in London, threw flares and water bottles at police officers and reporters. K.: London Metropolitan Police under scanner as Khalistan supporters throw eggs, inks at Indian High Commission | International (devdiscourse.com)
• Mar 23, 2023: Gandhi statue in Ontario was disfigured with paint by Khalistan supporters. Mahatma Gandhi statue defaced with pro-Khalistan grafitti in Canada (firstpost.com)
• Mar 25, 2023: Hundreds gathered outside the Indian Consulate in Vancouver, waving yellow flags. Hundreds gather outside Indian consulate in Vancouver to protest crackdowns in Punjab | Globalnews.ca
• Mar 25, 2023: Indian journalist, Lalit Jha, was injured and abused by Khalistani protesters outside the Indian Embassy in Washington. Indian Journalist Lalit Jha Attacked, Threats Against Envoy At U.S. Khalistan Protest (ndtv.com)
• Mar 27, 2023: Khalistan supporters gathered at Times Square, blared horns and played loud music. Khalistan supporters protest at Times Square in New York | World News,The Indian Express
• Mar 27, 2023: A Gandhi bust at the campus of Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, Canada was beheaded. Mahatma Gandhi statue vandalised in Canada for second time in a week | Onmanorama

Citations

[1] Jetly, Rajshree. “The Khalistani Movement in India: The Interplay of Politics and State Power.” International Review of Modern Sociology 34, no. 1 (2008): 61–75. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41421658.

[2] Religion in India: Tolerance and Segregation | Pew Research Center

[3] https://www.punjabnewsexpress.com/diaspora/news/majority-of-sikhs-in-canada-denounce-khalistan-referendum-during-popular-bassi-show-181274

[4] www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/lssns-lrnd/index-en.aspx

[5] Sikh Gunmen Kill 24 Hindus, Wound 7 on Punjab Bus – Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)

[6] Backgrounder, Punjab (satp.org)

[7] C. Christine Fair, Kerry Ashkenaze & Scott Batchelder (2021) ‘Ground Hog Da Din’ for the Sikh insurgency?, Small Wars & Insurgencies, 32:2, 344-373.

[8] Pande, Aparna, et al. “Pakistan’s Destabilization Playbook: Khalistan’s Separatist Activism within the U.S.” Hudson Institute. https://www.hudson.org/foreign-policy/pakistan-s-destabilization-playbookkhalistan-separatist-activism-within-the-us

[9] khalistan: a project of pakistan – Search (bing.com)

[10] https://www.state.gov/executive-order-13224/#state

[11] Attack on Indian High Commission: The protestors & handlers – The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)

[12] British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raaab On Protests Outside Indian Embassy (ndtv.com)

[13] Kashmir protest banned from taking place outside India’s mission building on Diwali – Times of India (indiatimes.com)