The Sikhs in India continue to face discrimination and hardship. Not only has the treatment of Sikhs not improved, it is getting worse.  

The Sikh population in India stands at 20.8 million, which is only 1.72% of the country’s total population.  Sikhi is the dominant religion in Punjab. Punjab is a small state in the north of India. Punjab was a sovereign country till the British took over in 1849.  During decolonization and the divide of India in 1947 by the British, some parts of Punjab were split into Pakistan and the rest was left to be governed under India’s rule.

Sikhs are considered a minority religion within India and have experienced hardship throughout India’s history.  The partition of India in 1947, and the 1984 Sikh genocide are two key events in Sikh history.  Since 1984 Sikhs have continued to be discriminated against because of their religious beliefs. India claims to be a land of unity in diversity but minorities are often underrepresented.

What is the Khalistan movement?

The Khalistan movement aims to establish an independent state for Sikhs in the Punjab region. The movement began after India gained independence from the British in 1947. However, it didn’t gain a lot of momentum until Shiromani Akali Dal and Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale launched the ‘Dharam Yudh Morcha’ in 1982.  The core aim for the movement at the time was the ‘constitutional recognition of Sikhs as a separate ‘nation’ and declaration of Amritsar as a ‘holy city’. Since the 1980’s, the movement has continued to grow and spread overseas to places such as Canada and the United Kingdom.

The current Khalistan movement?

Sikhs for Justice is a pro Khalistan group which is based in the UK and was founded in 2007. In 2018, the SFJ announced the ‘Referendum 2020’ seeking independence for Punjab from India. The referendum received more than 200,000 votes and attracted widespread publicity. However, the Indian government refused to acknowledge the referendum and were displeased it took place. Organisations such as SFJ continue to work to stop Sikhs being treated as second-class citizens in India.

The Indian government and The Khalistan movement

The Indian government and Prime minister Narendra Modi have labelled the Khalistan movement as terrorism and its supporters as terrorists. Supporters and activists of the movement have faced serious consequences from the Indian government.  In 2014, Ramandeep Singh, a Sikh Khalistan supporter was arrested on terrorism charges.  The Indian police have not found any evidence against Ramandeep. However, they have extended his remand period three times.  Many other cases such as Ramandeep’s exist and continue to be covered up by the Indian government. Many supporters of the movement are being prosecuted based on terrorism charges without any substantial evidence.

Since 2019, India has also banned SFJ under the “Unlawful Activities Prevention Act” and identified the leader of the group Gurpatwant Singh Pannun as a terrorist.  Since 1980 the Khalistan movement has been significantly disliked by the Indian government. The hostility towards the movement continues, it is uncertain what the future holds, but it remains strong.

The Bharatiya Janata Party

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since India’s general election in 2014. The BJP expresses a commitment to Hindutva and the party has historically reflected Hindu nationalist positions. It has been argued that the party has increased hate against religious minorities in India specifically for Sikhs and Muslims. In recent years, there has been an increase in anti-Sikh propaganda online and throughout India. Comments made online from BJP members include calls for a “repeat of 1984” to “sacking every Punjabi from the army”.  Members of the BJP are openly discriminating against Sikh people on Twitter and other social media platforms without facing any consequences.

Current Issues

The primary language spoken by Sikhs in India is Punjabi. However, the Indian government have failed to include Punjabi as a primary language in schools even within Punjab. In some schools, students face serious consequences such as fines for speaking Punjabi. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human rights outlines the right to freedom of opinion and expression. The United Nations claims all member states should “promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world”. The Indian government should respect all languages, as it claims to be a land of unity in diversity.

Many organisations or activists who speak online via social media about the injustice Sikhs face in India have been banned or reported by the Indian government. Organisations who share information about the teaching of Sikhi have had their accounts restricted. This includes ‘Basics of Sikhi’ and ‘Sikh Youth UK’. Organisations such as these promote peace and are against any violence or hatred towards anyone.

There is hope that Sikhs can be treated in a better way within India. The Indian government needs to respect the religion and stop putting restrictions against Sikh people, if there is to be a chance to move forward.