Sikh religious extremism - Misplaced Pages

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Sikh extremism refers to separatist beliefs that involve the formation of a Sikh state. Most often referred to as Khalistan, the state may be theocratic, and may be democratic. Burgess argues that Sikhism has proven prone to religious terrorism, which has been used in the struggle for the envisioned Sikh state. It has been suggested that the solution to the Sikh Extremists' concerns has both political and religious elements. Sikh extremism has decreased significantly since mid-1992, although Sikh militant cells are active internationally and extremists gather funds from overseas Sikh communities.

Sikh extremism in India

Main article: Punjab insurgency

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Sikh separatism began on a small-scale soon after India gained independence in 1947. In the 1970s, some felt the Government of India did not respond adequately to Sikh grievances. There were subsequent confrontations between fundamentalist Sikhs and non-Sikh extremist groups. There were eventual demands for a separate Sikh homeland. Extremist violence culminated in Operation Bluestar, the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards. The following 1984 Anti-Sikh massacre and riots reinforced Sikh extremism, leading to an increase in political assassinations.

There were several terrorist attacks by Sikh militants during the Punjab insurgency periods (e.g. 1987 Punjab killings and 1991 Punjab killings). The government forces, led by police officer KPS Gill, (himself a Sikh) was accused of human rights violations during the counter-insurgency operations. Beant Singh was also killed by Babbar Khalsa extremists on 31 August 1995.

Sikh separatists claimed that Sikhs were being discriminated against, while the Government argued that the purpose of Operation BlueStar and other operations was not intended to attack the Sikh faith, but rather, expel the armed militants hiding in a place of worship. The United Nations Special Reporter concluded in his February 1997 report that the situation of Indian Sikhs in the religious field is satisfactory. However, he also noted that there was discrimination in certain sectors of public administration: for example, after Indira Gandhi's assassination, there were fewer Sikhs in the police force and no Sikhs in personal bodyguard units.

In the early 1990s, a number of militant groups tried to impose "codes of conduct" for journalists; these codes carried a death penalty for those who disobeyed. Sikhs belonging to non-orthodox minority sects were also targeted. There were also indiscriminate attacks designed to cause extensive civilian casualties: derailing trains, exploding bombs in markets, restaurants and other civilian areas between Delhi and the Punjab. Many moderate Sikh political leaders were assassinated for opposing the militants, while several others were killed as a result of militant group rivalries. The extremists also kidnapped civilians for extortion, and frequently murdered them when the demands were not met. Threats were also made to the minority Hindu population so as to drive them out of Punjab. This resulted in thousands of Hindus fleeing the state. The major militant outfits included:

Sikh extremism in the UK

A report on BBC Radio 4 Feb 2008, stated that Britain had been warned of a new terror threat from Sikh fundamentalists who are aligning forces with Al Qaeda The FBI states: “The British Authorities have been made aware of our interest in certain individuals residing in the UK who may have connections to Sikh terror groups based in Pakistan.”

The British Sikh writer Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti was forced into hiding after protests by Sikhs led to the cancellation of her play Behzti. She was physically threatened, death threats were made against her she was verbally abused and her family was harassed, forcing her to leave her home. However, she received messages of support from fellow playwrights, actors and even some Sikhs across the world.

The Chief of the Punjab Police, NPS Aulakh alleged in 2008 that supporters are transferring money to the militant groups via informal funding channels in the UK Sikh community

Sikh extremism in North America

Sikh extremism spread quickly in Canada in the 1980s. It ranged from raising funds for violent attacks to intimidation and assassinations. Notable criminal activities included beatings, arson and threats of kidnapping and death. Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh says he and others who spoke out against Sikh extremism in the 1980s faced a "reign of terror".

Babbar Khalsa, founded by Canadian fundamentalist Sikhs, has been officially listed as a terrorist organization in the European Union, Canada, India, and the United States. Ajaib Singh Bagri, the co-founder of the Babbar Khalsa, told the founding convention of the World Sikh Organization in 1984: "Until we kill 50,000 Hindus, we will not rest." Another organization, International Sikh Youth Federation, has also been officially listed in Canada and The United States as an illegal terrorist organization.

In 2008, a CBC report stated that "a disturbing brand of extremist politics has surfaced" at some of the Vaisakhi parades in Canada. According to Terry Milewski, CBC News, Canadian courts have established that that Talwinder Parmar, the founder of the Babbar Khalsa was the mastermind of the Air India bombings, but Sikh fundamentalists insist that he was a "shaheed" (martyr). According to an Indian investigative journal Tehelka run by Tarun Tejpal, Parmar might have been liquidated by Indian security forces in a Fake Encounter who might have been involved into the bombing incident.

Sikh extremist links to terrorism and violence

Jagat Narain was the proprietor of two newspapers, he opposed Bhindranwale who was seen as the figurehead of extremism, Narain was later gunned down along with 62 members of his press staff in the early 80's. Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her own Sikh bodyguards in 1984 On November 11, 1987, Darshan Das, a teacher,, social reformer and humanitarian with two of his volunteers, Joga Singh and Satwant, were assassinated by Sikh extremists in Southall, UK. Tara Singh Hayer, a Canadian Sikh journalist and who was earlier a vocal advocate of Khalistan, who had written editorials denouncing Sikh extremists was murdered and his assailants have never been found. The Canadian journalist Kim Bolan has written extensively on Sikh extremism and has also received death threats Another journalist, Tarsem Singh Purewal, 60, was editor of Britain's Punjabi-language weekly, Des Pardes, and was killed as he was closing his office in Southall Canadian Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh was hospitalized in 1985 after being beaten by a Sikh extremist wielding an iron bar.

In 2006, Terry Milewski reported in a documentary for the CBC that a minority within Canada's Sikh community was gaining political influence even while publicly supporting terrorist acts in support of the struggle for an independent Sikh state. A Sikh separatist group, The World Sikh Organization(WSO), later sued the CBC for slander and libel, alleging that Milewski linked it to terrorism and damaged the reputation of the WSO within the Sikh community. However, the WSO did not identify any factual errors in the broadcast.

Examples of media coverage of extremist violence:

Wanted Sikh held over Delhi bombs
Key witness speaks at Air India trial
Canadian MP says warnings ignored over Sikh extremists
15 Hindus killed in Punjab
Liberal MP describes beatings, death threats faced by opponents of Sikh extremism
Sikh Terrorism Enters Politics in Canada

Condemnation by mainstream Sikhs

Sikh extremist groups were vociferously condemned by moderate Sikhs all over the world. Two of the well known moderate Sikh victims of Sikh militants were Harchand Singh Longowal and Beant Singh. Two leading Canadian Sikh politicians refused to attend the 2008 Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, saying it was a glorification of terrorism.

Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh has expressed his concern of Sikh terrorism he was a Governor of the Reserve Bank of India under Indira Gandhi who was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards.,