by Zafar Iqbal Yousafzai 8 April 2023
For the past six days, Indian authorities have been on a nationwide hunt for Amritpal Singh, a hardline Sikh leader from the northwestern state of Punjab, who has been on the run since March 18. To find him, authorities have deployed thousands of paramilitary police and restricted internet and mobile messaging services across the state, forcing nearly 30 million people to go offline. Singh leads a group called Waris Punjab De, which means “the heirs of Punjab,” and supports the Khalistan movement, which calls for the creation of an independent Sikh homeland. Singh rose to prominence after joining Waris Punjab De during the year-long farmers’ protests in 2020. After Waris Punjab De’s founder, Deep Sidhu, was killed in a car crash in February 2022, Singh took over the group and continued to campaign for Sikh rights by giving impassioned speeches against rising Hindu nationalism sentiments under the Modi administration and social issues like rampant drug addiction in Punjab. His speeches have resonated with many Sikhs and have led to his rising popularity.
The Indian government is cracking down on Singh and his supporters, with the police having arrested more than a hundred people linked to an incident in which hundreds of Singh’s supporters stormed a local police station with guns and swords to demand the release of a jailed aide. The Indian government has extended the internet ban to prevent the spread of fake news, rumors, and misinformation on social media that they say could spark further violence. However, this is not the first time that the Indian government has restricted access to the internet. Since 2018, India has ranked first in the world for the highest number of internet shutdowns. A recent report by Access Now counted 84 such incidents in 2022. Many digital rights activists have called the deployment of this tactic ineffective and an infringement of free speech and digital rights.
As the hunt for Singh was underway, protests broke out in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K., with Indian consulates in the cities of London and San Francisco vandalized by Singh’s supporters. In response, India summoned the senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi on Sunday “to convey strong protest at the actions taken by separatist and extremist elements,” according to a statement by India’s foreign ministry.
The Khalistan movement has been a contentious issue in India since the 1980s, and the Indian government has been accused of suppressing Sikh voices and protests. The movement has seen violence in the past, including the 1984 assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards in the aftermath of the Indian army’s storming of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the holiest shrine of Sikhism.
The Indian government’s crackdown on Singh and his supporters has raised concerns about the suppression of Sikh voices and protests in India. The Khalistan movement’s call for an independent Sikh homeland continues to resonate with many Sikhs in India and around the world, and the Indian government’s use of force to quell dissent raises questions about the state of democracy and free speech in India.
The situation in Punjab has been tense for several weeks now, with Amritpal Singh’s supporters taking to the streets to demand his release. The police have been accused of using excessive force in dealing with the protests, which has only served to escalate tensions further. The Indian government’s crackdown on the internet and social media has also been criticized by human rights organizations for being a violation of free speech and digital rights.
Many Sikh activists and organizations around the world have condemned the Indian government’s actions in Punjab. They argue that the Sikh community has long been subjected to discrimination and suppression by the Indian state, and that the Khalistan movement is a legitimate expression of their desire for self-determination.
However, the Indian government sees the Khalistan movement as a threat to national security and has taken a hardline stance against it. The government believes that the movement is supported by foreign powers, particularly Pakistan, and that it poses a risk to India’s territorial integrity.
The history of the Sikh community in India is complex and fraught with tension. The community has a distinct identity, culture, and language, and has often felt marginalized by the Indian state. The demand for a separate Sikh homeland has been a long-standing issue, and the Indian government’s actions in Punjab have only served to fuel the separatist sentiment further.
In recent years, the Indian government has been accused of suppressing dissent and cracking down on civil liberties. The use of internet shutdowns and restrictions on social media has become a common tactic in dealing with protests and unrest. The government’s actions have been criticized by human rights organizations and activists, who argue that they are an infringement on free speech and digital rights.
The situation in Punjab is just one example of the wider political and social tensions in India. The country is grappling with a range of issues, including rising Hindu nationalism, discrimination against minority communities, and economic inequality. The government’s response to these issues has been criticized by many, with some arguing that it is becoming increasingly authoritarian.
The situation in Punjab is unlikely to be resolved anytime soon. The Indian government’s hardline stance on the Khalistan movement means that any attempts at dialogue and reconciliation are likely to be met with resistance. The international community has a role to play in promoting peace and stability in the region, but it is unclear what form this will take.
In conclusion, the situation in Punjab highlights the deep-rooted political and social tensions in India. The suppression of dissent and the use of force to deal with protests is a worrying trend that threatens to undermine India’s democratic values. The international community must do more to support human rights and civil liberties in India, and to promote dialogue and reconciliation between different communities. Only then can the country move towards a more peaceful and inclusive future.