Why is India so worried about Sikh separatist calls for Khalistan?
India is concerned about Sikh separatist calls for Khalistan due to the history of violence and terrorism associated with the movement.
The bombing of Air India flight 182 in 1985, carried out by Sikh separatists, resulted in the deaths of all 329 people on board.
This attack, along with the storming of the Golden Temple in Punjab by the Indian army, has fueled tensions between the Indian government and Sikh separatists.
The demand for Khalistan, a separate Sikh homeland, has its roots in the mistreatment of Sikhs in India following the country's independence in 1947.
Sikhs, who make up less than 2% of India's population, felt marginalized and began advocating for greater political and cultural autonomy.
While there hasn't been an active insurgency in Punjab for nearly three decades, recent sporadic violence and targeted killings have reignited concerns about separatism.
The recent allegations by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the Indian state may have been involved in the killing of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil have further strained relations between India and Canada.
India has vehemently denied these allegations and has taken diplomatic measures to express its displeasure with Canada.
The resurgence of the Khalistan issue has raised questions about why it has become a live issue again.
While the majority of Sikhs in India identify as Indian and are proud to be Indian, there is a sense of injustice among some Sikhs and in the Punjab region.
The Indian government's framing of national security concerns is influenced by the history of Sikh extremism and the violence that occurred during the Khalistan insurgency in the 1970s and 80s.
India's worries about Sikh separatist calls for Khalistan stem from the history of violence associated with the movement and the potential threat to national security.
The issue has strained relations between India and Canada, and there is a growing disconnect between the Indian government and the Sikh diaspora.
While the demand for Khalistan has diminished within India, overseas Sikh organizations continue to advocate for a separate homeland.
The resolution of this issue requires collaboration between India and its international partners to address the concerns of the Sikh community and ensure peace and stability in the region.
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