Background

In the 15th century, Guru Nanak inaugurated Sikhism in Punjab, which now boasts approximately 25 million followers globally. Sikhs in India have had to contend with oppression from both Mughal and subsequently British authorities. Following their defeat by the British in 1849, the Sikh Empire was fragmented into several parts. Even before the collapse of the British Empire, there were calls for the establishment of a separate Sikh state. The Shromani Akali Dal was among the first groups advocating for this separation. In 1947, this demand transformed into a significant movement. Although Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs united to fight against British colonial rule, post-independence, India emerged as a Hindu-majority nation while Pakistan became Muslim-majority.

Khalistan Movement

Initiated after the decline of the British Empire, the Khalistan Movement sought to establish an independent sovereign nation for Sikhs named Khalistan, translating to "land of the pure." The envisioned territory included Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, and Chandigarh. The term “Khalistan” first appeared in 1929 during a Congress session in Lahore, where Motilal Nehru proposed "complete self-rule," met with opposition from various groups including the Muslim League led by Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar's Dalit group, and the Shromani Akali Dal, fronted by Tara Singh. At that time, Singh demanded a separate state for Sikhs, leading to the initiation of the Punjabi Suba movement in 1947. During the division of India post-independence, Punjab was split into two sections. The State Reorganization Commission of independent India rejected the Shromani Akali Dal’s plea for a distinct Sikh province based on linguistic grounds. Although "Khalistan" was referenced in pamphlets as early as 1940, the movement gained momentum due to economic support from Sikh emigrants and backing from Pakistan, culminating in peak activity through the 1980s.

According to the 1941 census, Muslims comprised about 53% of Punjab's population, with Hindus at 30% and Sikhs around 15%. Given this demographic context, many Sikhs sought to engage with the United States politically. As India approached independence, Jawaharlal Nehru urged in 1946 for a designated space for Sikhs in the northern regions of India. Following the decline of the British Empire, 62% of Punjab was allocated to Pakistan, which altered the dynamics for Sikhs migrating from Pakistan to India, resulting in the formation of present-day Punjab consisting of Haryana, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh. While recognizing the rising influence of the Akali Dal and their capacity to demand a separate state, in 1956, the government created a linguistic state by dismantling the Patiala and East Punjab Union, failing to address the Sikhs' demands effectively. After the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War, due to contributions made by Sikhs, Punjab was re-established as a separate state in 1966, excluding Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

In contemporary India, which has a population of about 1.4 billion, the Sikh community represents less than 2% of the total populace, yet they remain predominant in the northern state of Punjab. Despite their relatively small presence within India, supporters of Khalistan are found within a global diaspora, particularly from some Sikhs in Canada, Britain, and Australia who express sympathy toward the movement. A small but influential segment of these Sikhs advocates for the idea of establishing an independent Khalistani state, periodically conducting referendums to gauge public support for such a proposition.

Rebellion

The Khalistan rebellion began in 1984 and lasted until 1995. On April 29, 1986, pro-Khalistan factions unilaterally declared independence from India, later joining the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) in 1993. Led by Bhindranwale, who lamented that Sikhs were denied top military positions and leadership roles within the state, a militant outfit was established with its headquarters within the Golden Temple. To suppress this insurgency, the Indian government conducted Operation Blue Star, Operation Woodrose, Operation Black Thunder, and its sequel Operation Black Thunder II, which significantly curtailed the insurrection but resulted in considerable loss of life and property, drawing allegations of human rights violations against the Indian Army.

Post-Operation Situation

On June 10, 1984, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ordered the Indian Army to enter the Golden Temple in Amritsar under Operation Blue Star with the aim of eliminating Sikh separatists. This operation incited widespread anger within the Sikh community, resulting in the deaths of over 3,000 individuals, primarily Sikhs. Several Sikh leaders, including Amarinder Singh, resigned from the Congress party in protest against the operation, while notable writers like Khushwant Singh returned government-awarded honors. Four months after Operation Blue Star, on October 31, 1984, two Sikh youths assassinated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Her assassination triggered severe anti-Sikh riots in Delhi, claiming the lives of over 8,000 Sikhs. A year later, on June 23, 1985, pro-Khalistan activists planted a bomb aboard an Air India flight, resulting in 329 fatalities. Those opposing the Indian state also executed retired General A.S. Vaidya, who had led Operation Blue Star, on August 10, 1986. Furthermore, on August 31, 1995, a suicide bomber led to the assassination of Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh.

International Pressure Concerning Sikh Issues

The ongoing discourse regarding Sikh issues has led to an increase in international pressure on India, urging the government to address these concerns while navigating the complex relationship between the Sikh community and the Indian state.
India's pressure on the governments of Canada, Australia, and the UK—countries with significant Sikh populations—has been a source of escalating diplomatic tension. The Indian government categorizes issues related to demands for an independent state as "Sikh extremism," warning that bilateral relations could deteriorate if the mentioned states do not cooperate in addressing these matters. Since the initiation of a crackdown on Khalistani supporter Amritpal Singh in India, pro-Khalistan activists have increasingly mobilized in nations like the UK, the USA, and Canada. Although Australian officials have stated they will investigate the vandalism carried out by Khalistani supporters at Hindu temples, they have also indicated that they cannot prevent expressions advocating for an independent state. Conversely, India has openly criticized Canada for not opposing the Khalistan movement. After Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for an end to ongoing violence, he also expressed opposition to "foreign interference." Tensions further escalated in March when protests occurred outside the Indian High Commission in London, where participants displayed yellow banners declaring support for Khalistan. In defiance of India's strong objections, demonstrators attempted to replace the Indian flag at the High Commission with a Khalistani flag.

Chilled Relations Between India and Canada

Relations between India and Canada have soured significantly, particularly after Prime Minister Trudeau announced an investigation into credible allegations implicating India in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh leader shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023. This situation led both countries to expel each other’s diplomats, further straining ties between New Delhi and Ottawa. Recently, there have been accusations suggesting India’s intelligence agency, RAW, is attempting to emulate Israel's Mossad. Following Canada's charges regarding India's involvement in a Sikh activist's murder on its soil, both nations declared their respective senior diplomats unwelcome. Melanie Joly, Canada’s Foreign Minister, revealed that the expelled diplomat was Pawan Kumar Rai, head of an Indian intelligence agency at the Indian Embassy. In response, India's Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement on October 2, demanding that a senior Canadian diplomat leave India within five days. Additionally, BLS International, which handles visa and passport services for India, announced a temporary suspension of visa services for Canadian citizens on their website, effective from October 3, citing operational reasons until further notice. Following Trudeau's remarks, two major Sikh organizations in Canada, the British Columbia Gurdwara Council (BCGC) and the Ontario Gurdwara Committee (OGC), urged the Canadian government to immediately suspend all intelligence, investigative, and prosecutorial cooperation with India. Meanwhile, Canadian authorities have yet to apprehend anyone connected to Nijjar's murder despite announcing investigations into three suspects in August. In a related incident, a Khalistani supporter named Sukhdul Singh, also known as Sukha Dunuke, was shot dead in Winnipeg after fleeing Punjab. Sukha, a wanted man in India, had seven criminal cases against him due to his alleged operations directed from Canada in support of separatist activities.

India's Denial

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs directly refuted Prime Minister Trudeau's claims linking India to Nijjar's murder, labeling the allegations about India's involvement in the violence in Canada as "baseless and motivated." They asserted that such accusations are attempts to divert attention from the actions of Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who pose a threat to India's sovereignty and territorial integrity, arguing that Canada's failure to address these extremist activities on its soil is a growing concern. Furthermore, the ministry called for immediate and effective legal action against anti-India activities originating from Canada. However, it's notable that Nijjar's name was indeed included on India's Ministry of Home Affairs' terrorist list, with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) accusing him in 2020 of attempting to radicalize the Sikh community globally in favor of Khalistan.

Economic Comparison Between Canada and India

In the wake of the tensions arising between India and Canada, it appears that the G7 countries including the UK, USA, Australia, and the Netherlands have rallied in support of Canada. An economic analysis reveals that, aside from GDP figures, most indicators favor Canada. India has a GDP of $3 trillion, an export business of $100 billion, and a per capita income of around $2,000. In contrast, Canada boasts a GDP of $2.1 trillion, with exports amounting to $657 billion and a per capita income near $60,000. Moreover, Canada leads India in technology, climate financing, and economic assistance as a donor country. Canada exports various goods including fertilizers, fuel, food, vegetables, paper, iron and steel, and precious metals to India and Nepal, with a breakdown showing imports constituting 36% minerals, 15% paper products, 11% vegetables, and other categories making up smaller percentages.

Impact of the Khalistani Movement in Nepal

According to the 2021 census data, the Sikh population in Nepal is recorded at just 1,496, comprising only 0.01% of the total population. Although Sikhs involved in the Khalistani movement engage in anti-India and Sikh advocacy activities across countries like Canada, the UK, and Australia, the small Sikh community in Nepal shows little direct or indirect involvement in such activism. However, should the Khalistani movement gain momentum, there exists a risk that pro-Khalistani Sikh elements in India may influence the Sikh populace in neighboring countries like Nepal. Currently, there is evident animosity between the Sikh community in India and the Hindu nationalist groups, with the presence of a substantial number of Hindus in Nepal. If Nepal sides with India amid tensions between Canada and India, it may see a reduction in assistance from Canada. Furthermore, the recent travel bans imposed by both countries on each other's citizens complicate the situation; if relations between Canada and India deteriorate further, Canada may impose stricter visa regulations on Nepalis, affecting ongoing and future projects. If Western nations worsen relations with India, it could indirectly impact Nepal and create challenges in maintaining balanced foreign and diplomatic policies.