Khalid Mahmood Awan
The India was partitioned on the lines of religion. Most of the Muslim population areas opted to become part of Pakistan. Then, there was a massive migration across the borders of Pakistan and India. Irrespective of the arguments for the partition, it is done purely on the lines of religion. The breakup of Punjab was the central part of the partition plan. Instead, it was a break up of Punjab, Bengal and Kashmir than the division of India. Punjab had three primary religions before partition: Islam, Sikhism and Hinduism. The Muslim Punjabies opted for Pakistani Punjab, and Sikhs and Hindus opted for Indian Punjab. However, Punjab has always been a cultural identity. Then, the Muslims and Hindus got their religious homelands despite breaking up their geographical land. However, the Sikhs remained at a complete loss as they neither kept the integrity of Punjab nor got their Sikh homeland, as religion was the dividing power.
Then this sentiment has always been close to the hearts of Sikhs that they could not form their homeland on the foundation of Sikhism. The incidents in the 1980s strengthened the perception that the elders of Sikhs could not make the right choice in the backdrop of the Indian partition in 1947. Nevertheless, there has always been confusion among Sikhs about Punjabi, Sikh and Indian identities. It is tough to identify with all these identities. The Britishers took over Punjab from Punjabi Sikhs. There were more Sikhs and Punjabis than Indians. However, they were left with no choice in 1947, although they were the rulers in Punjab before the arrival of the Britishers.
The latest incident at Ajnala is manifesting the lurking identity crises of Sikhs in Punjab. The overseas Sikhs are more vociferous for Khalistan than Sikhs living in the Indian Punjab. It might be due to the state power that Sikhs living in Punjab are afraid of open sloganeering for Khalistan. However, despite the state power and average unity of Sikhs for Khalistan, there is a lurking desire among Sikhs for Khalistan.
Mr Amritpal, who recently stated that the “Khalistan movement can’t be stopped from flourishing”, had called his supporters to assemble at Ajnala to protest against the arrest of his close associate in an alleged kidnapping and theft case. The supporters of Mr Amritpal, who is the leader of the ‘Waris Punjab De’ outfit, broke a police barricade as they clashed with the police personnel near the Ajnala Police Station and stormed into the police complex in a “show of force”.
Alleging that the FIR had been recorded only with a political justification, Mr Amritpal solicited cancellation of the FIR and immediate release of the arrested person as his followers picketed the complex. Talking to journalists, he warned that if the demands were not met, the administration would be responsible for whatever happened. Mr Amritpal, among others, was recently booked by the Punjab police allegedly for kidnapping, theft, and voluntarily causing hurt to a resident of Chamkaur Sahib in Rupnagar district. In this connection, the Police arrested Lovepreet Singh alias Toofan Singh last week. Following this, his family members accused the Police of falsely incriminating him in the case.
Surrendering to the demand, the Police announced they would release Mr Lovepreet. Satinder Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police (Amritsar rural), said we would be discharging the person (Lovepreet) who we had arrested as, according to the proof provided by them (supporters), he was not present at the place. Again, a Special Investigating Team would examine the matter and take action. He will be discharged tomorrow.”
About the scuffle between the supporter and police personnel, he said, “Police personnel have been injured. We are scrutinizing it.”
Mr Amritpal has been invariably speaking the rhetoric of independence and separation, evoking rings for the freedom of Punjab and the creation of Khalistan on several platforms. The 29-year-old man dresses similarly to the slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and draws “provocation” from him. The resurgence of the Khalistan movement in Punjab may have lost widespread support. Yet, the recent sporadic incidents surrounding the Kahlistan connection in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and the activeness of pro-Khalistan elements, including Mr Amritpal, has constructed anxiety among many who recall the era of armed militant movement in Punjab during the 1980s and 1990s.
Meanwhile, ex-Punjab Chief Minister and BJP leader Amarinder Singh voiced serious concern over the Ajnala incident. It is not only a total collapse of Punjab’s law and order situation, but it is also more severe than that, he said, adding that “this incident has grave security implications for the state and the country.”
The senior BJP leader drew the Central government’s attention to this incident, warning that a particular pattern does not augur well for national security. Especially when Pakistan is there to encourage and exploit such a situation, he said, while raising questions over the competence of the State government in dealing with such a situation.
The Indian response to any internal upheaval is to blame Pakistan. The Indian government and people must think, whether they like it or not, that religion divided India, and it will again divide India. People can talk about the merit of the argument, but religious sentiments have ruled the Indians for the last so many centuries. The religious sentiments become more evocative when there is religious fanaticism in large portions of the population. Constitutionally, India is a secular country; however, with the BJP in power for two consecutive terms, the Hindu right-wing has emerged as the dominating force. Muslims and other religious communities are more insecure than ever. It has also impacted the Sikh community that India is no longer a secular country, and therefore, Sikhs need to retain their separate homeland.
It shall be a challenging task for India to normalize the sentiment of religion among Sikhs across the globe. Then, the religious belief can not be settled with development, growth or expansion. It is a purely cultural and political phenomenon. Pacifying political issues is not the solution; resolving the problems is the only way forward. The Indian state must act accordingly and resolve the issue than soothing it.https://republicpolicy.com/ideology-of-hate-consuming-india-says-gandhis-great-grandson/
