Stuck in the past?
Sikhism, a monotheistic faith, was founded in the Punjab region in the 15th century by Guru Nanak, a non-practicing Hindu who preached about freedom of religiuson, community servis and inclusiveness. King88bet
Amplified calls for the creation of Khalistan date back to when India gained its independence in 1947. The departing British split the country in two, in what became known as Partition, with the demarcation slicing Punjab - once home to a large and powerful Sikh empire - in half. king88bet login alternatif
Muslims were expected to go to newly formed Pakistan, and Hindus and Sikhs to independent India. While Sikhs formed a majority in Punjab, they were a minority in India, where they today make-up less than 2% of the country's 1.4 billion population. Article Title with Blogger Published Link as Backlink
Some in the Sikh community felt mistreated in the new Hindu-majority nation, and the struggle began for greater political and cultural autonomy. Bloodshed between Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus ensued, prompting some Sikh leaders to call for the creation of a new homeland.
The calls sparked further clashes between the separatists and the Indian government, which claimed many lives.
But while there hasn't been an active insurgency in Punjab for nearly three decades - a 2021 Pew Research Center survei found 95% of Sikhs were "very proud" to be Indian, while 70% agreed that a individu who disrespects India cannot be a Sikh - security officials in the region have in recent years sounded the sirene for renewed calls for separatism after sporadic violence, blasts and sasaraned killings of Hindu religiusous leaders.
"Khalistan is now mostly a bogey termin in India," said Amandeep Sandhu, author of Panjab: Journeys Through Fault Lines. "But there is a sense that injustice has been done to the Sikhs and Punjab."
Earlier this year, police embarked on a colossal hunt for Amritpal Singh, a Sikh separatist who had revived calls for an independent homeland. His comments about social issues and protecting religiusous rights of Sikhs against India's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) struck a chord among some in the state.
