Indian authorities have shut off mobile internet access in Punjab as they continue a massive manhunt for Amritpal Singh, a self-styled preacher who has been espousing extremely pro-Khalistan opinions in his recent speeches. Amritpal is also the leader of Waris Panjab De, a group that says it fights for the rights of the people of Punjab and has most notably been associated with the farmers’ protest movement last year. But it wasn’t until last month that Amritpal became public enemy number one for the regime — that is when Amritpal and hundreds of his supporters, allegedly armed with swords, knives and guns, raided a police station after one of his aides was arrested on charges of assault and attempted kidnapping. The police claim the mob was using copies of the Guru Granth Sahib — the Sikh holy book — as shields.
Amritpal’s surging popularity has some experts concerned about a return to the 1980s Sikh militancy era, which saw thousands of people killed, including many civilians, while Indian security forces gained notoriety for the use of excessive force and staged encounters, culminating in the disastrous Operation Blue Star raid on the Golden Temple, the holiest site in the Sikh faith. However, others believe that Amritpal’s popularity is being hyped, and while he has revived interest in the Khalistan movement, active support is still limited. Singh’s supporters say his popularity is based on his social justice efforts — such as identifying water disputes and calling attention to increasing drug addiction — and that framing him as a one-note separatist is an attempt to malign him.
Some experts say Amritpal’s popularity is a direct result of the rise of Hindutva ideology, which has made many Sikhs feel oppressed by the majority population after decades of state efforts to make them feel included. Ironically, the fundamentalist Hindutva movement’s assault on Indian secularism has bred fundamentalist sentiment in minorities, including Sikhs. If not addressed, the hateful ideology will end up tearing India apart.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 22nd, 2023.
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