Kapil’s Khichadi
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The madness of Khalistan took traction when in June 1984 the Indian Government put into action Operation Blue Star. The aim was to capture the terrorist leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. These extremists had taken hold of Harmandir Sahib ji (Golden Temple) complex in Amritsar and had stored enough weapons to carry out a mini war. This clash gave the Khalistani terrorists the perfect excuse to launch their counter narrative, one of self-determination and securing an independent state called Khalistan. Since 1984 these terrorist organisations, and its satellites around the world, have focussed on two objectives. The first is based on violence and intimidation, and the second on politics and taking control of Gurdwaras.
So what is the truth about Khalistan? Answer, there is no such thing as Khalistan. The very notion of Sikhs being separate from India would be rejected by the Gurus. For any ‘Sikh’ who acts against India, the very nation that thousands of Sikhs laid their lives for, is to directly dishonour the Gurus and the Guru Granth Sahib. In my view a Khalistani can never be a true Sikh.
As far as the Sikh community is concerned, the vast majority have no interest in Khalistan. This is also true for the majority of the Sikh diaspora dotted around the globe. The Sikh community in India is one of the most progressive and prosperous communities. It has proudly represented the highest offices of the country that include the presidency and prime minister, army generals, top bureaucrats, technocrats, and state heads.
In recent times a Gurpatwant Singh Pannu has appeared on the scene from America. He wants to become the self-appointed leader for the Khalistanis. Our own Lord Rami Ranger put it nicely when he said, ‘Mr Pannu’s vision is to go against that of the Sikh Gurus by contradicting their philosophy. Where the Sikh Gurus believed in the oneness of the human race, Mr Pannu believes that the Sikhs are a different race and also have a different DNA to that of the rest of Indians. Sikh Gurus dedicated theirlives and paid supreme sacrifices to unite us withthe rest of humankind, and here Mr Pannu is trying todivide us by peddling hatred against non-Sikhs ofPunjab. Sikh Gurus gave us a faith which is basedon interfaith teachings to demonstrate that we areall equal’.
When it comes to terrorism and anti-India forces, you can be assured that somewhere in the mix Pakistan will pop up. Pakistani ISIsponsors Khalistani leader like Gopal Singh Chawla and leaders of the banned group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) based in Pakistan and the US. Chawla is a well-known Khalistani who often spews venom against India and supports terrorism in Punjab. It is increasingly becoming clear that the Khalistani extremists are working with Islamic extremists and Indian intelligence services believe that they are funded by them as well.
Their aim to garner support of western powers has backfired with all the leading nations rejecting Khalistan. In the UK some ‘Sikhs’ of Khalistani persuasion attempted to get the Government to accept Sikh as a distinct race in the forthcoming census. This was rejected rightly by the Government, however worryingly the Labour Party seems to be supportive of these Khalistani elements.
The Sikh community is in desperate need for a leader who can bring everyone together and honour the teachings of the Gurus. Allowing a small group of extremists any traction today will endanger the whole community in the future. It’s time to expose the extremists and reclaim the faith.
