India-Canada Standoff: Khalistan Not an Issue in Today’s Punjab

Jalandhar: With India and Canada’s diplomatic relations having actually degraded dramatically in the wake of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claims that “Indian representatives” lagged the killing of popular Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Khalistan concern has actually risen to centre phase worldwide. While an area of Sikhs abroad might still harbour the concept of Khalistan, back house in Punjab, individuals’ issues are restricted to farming issues, moving abroad (especially to Canada), dealing with the scourge of drugs, problems related to regional advancements and in some cases to do with regional social and spiritual occasions. The truth that Punjab’s stakes in Canada were high might be determined from the reality that based on the 2021 Census, Canada’s population was around 37 million, out of which 1.4 million were of Indian origin. 770, 000 individuals were Sikh, which indicates around 2% of Canada’s population was from Punjab. The effect of the immigrant Punjabi neighborhood was such that even the signboards in Canada remained in Punjabi language. By contrast, in the last 2011 census in India, Sikhs were simply 1.7% and their population decreased from the last census in 2001 by 0.2 portion points. The Wire takes a look at the elements behind the Khalistan story and how it has actually stopped working to discover any traction in Punjab for many years. Even the current demonstrations led by the self-styled pro-Khalistan leader of ‘Waris Punjab De’, Amritpal Singh abated within a matter of days. Amritpal in addition to his advocates was apprehended in April this year and is presently lodged in Dibrugarh prison in Assam. Talking with The Wire, Chandigarh based senior reporter Jagtar Singh who has actually composed 2 books– Khalistan Struggle: A Non-Movement and Rivers on Fire: Khalistan Struggle talked about the India-Canada diplomatic row in the worldwide viewpoint. “The details on India’s supposed disturbance in Canada has actually been shared by The Five Eyes, an intelligence alliance of Australia, New Zealand, the United States and the UK and not simply by Canada. When United States President Joe Biden left India without dealing with an interview, he right away landed in Vietnam and dramatically assaulted PM Modi. Whatever is connected. The western world is closing up versus Modi for particular factors however when a PM states something on the flooring of your house, he is expected to have some trustworthy info, on the basis of which they have actually responded”, he stated. Gurpatwant Pannu. Picture: PTI/File When asked on the Khalistan story abroad, Jagtar Singh rather positioned a concern to the Indian federal government over its failure to act versus United States based Sikhs for Justice leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannu. He stated, “Khalistanis have actually been active in Canada throughout the years. Even prior to Operation Bluestar, they were active in the UK, Canada and the United States. What is appealing is that the face of Khalistan motion outside India is Pannu. How come we (India) are not seeking his extradition? India is blaming Canada however Pannu is based in the United States. Despite the fact that numerous cases were submitted versus him, no action has actually been taken versus him. India requires to describe this.” Contrary to this, Jagtar stated that India had actually revealed a reward on the head of Hardeep Singh Nijjar however he was a public figure in Canada. “There are some contradictions. We have actually been declaring that the Khalistan problem has actually phased out however it has actually pertained to the centre phase once again. India has constantly approached this problem as a law-and-order issue however if it was so then why does this belief continue to dominate?” he questioned. Khalistan not a concern in Punjab: On the Khalistan concern not discovering any traction in Punjab over years, the senior reporter stated, “Khalistan was never ever a problem in the democratic domain. Even the SAD utilized to oppose the Khalistanis however the motion existed. The Indian federal government must take it as a political obstacle. The Khalistan battle requires closure since that sense of alienation amongst the Sikhs is continuing. Practically every 3rd household in Punjab was settled in Canada now or for that matter other nations abroad. Why is India quiet on such a delicate matter?” Noting significant factors, he stated it was the worry of the level of state injustice, UAPA and NSA cases, which stops individuals from even speaking about Khalistan. “Here individuals are put behind bars whereas in the west, they permit open conversation. Individuals do not even discuss it. Let us not forget that Sikhs are the only individuals who ruled this area at one point of time. That belief of being the rulers constantly stays. Having beliefs is something and requiring a different state is a completely various topic. In the West, we have the example of Scotland and Quebec, where referendums have actually been held however that was not the case in India”, he included. The senior reporter likewise shared how he attempted to get details through the Right to Information Act (RTI) from Punjab, main federal government and the Indian Army, when he was composing his 2nd book. “I even stopped working to get the copy of the file on who requisitioned the Army however the federal government never ever shared. The federal government needs to bring out the whole info”, he stated. Especially, in the added to the Punjab Assembly Elections in 2022, the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) while launching its election manifesto revealed the constitution of a ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commission’, to attend to the complaints of the victims, who were looking for justice and revealed a settlement of Rs 5 lakh each. Even then SAD president Parkash Singh Badal had actually likewise revealed a comparable commission in their election manifesto in 1997, which wound up as a simple lip service while the simmering discontent within the neighborhood kept growing. In this file image, dated April 26, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seen with Shiromani Akali Dal leader Parkash Singh Badal, Home Minister Amit Shah and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar in Varanasi. Image: PTI/File Former Sociologist calls Khalistan a non-issue: Former Head of Department of Sociology from P
Learn more