India might have proclaimed itself a Hindu state after the separation in 1947 because 80% of its population is Hindu, however, due to the persuasion of Gandhi, Nehru, and others, India decided “to seek a greater vision: a contemporary secular State in which all religious communities would have equal rights.” In rebuttal to this Nehruvian secular ambition, the Hindu extremist parties, including the Jan Singh, Shiv Sena, and Bajarang Dal, took Savakar’s notion of Hindutva to purge the Hindu land of minorities—and began creating fake history through the production of movies and dramas, the destruction of mosques and churches, and the persecution of missionaries. These differences have become more noticeable under the current Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) administration, which is working to turn India into a genuinely “Hindu” state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi secured the backing of extremist groups during his election campaign by endorsing their ideologies and promising to turn India into a Hindu Empire in which all non-Hindus would either have to be converted to Hinduism or expelled from the country or murdered. He seems to have adopted extreme measures which hurt minorities such as Muslims, Christians and Sikhs pave way for his election victory.
The Congress Party, which otherwise claims to have a more secular attitude, was in charge of the 1984 Hindu-Sikh massacres, which resulted in the murder of hundreds of Sikhs. The Babri Mosque was destroyed by the BJP’s militant Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1992, sectarian clashes, which caused the deaths of hundreds of Indian Muslims. Another dark chapter in India’s long tradition of religious and communal violence which has kept the country in a constant situation of political and social unrest is the 2002 killing of Muslims in Gujrat, which was sanctioned by the country’s then-chief minister, Narendra Modi.
Sikhs community which makes up about 2% of the country’s total population are mostly concentrated in Punjab. Such have always been victimized by Indian Government. Sikhs began the “Khalistan Movement” in the 1940s since Punjab had the majority of the population (58%) but it gained popularity in the 1980s when Indira Gandhi’s Government executed “Operation Blue Star” at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. 251 Sikhs were slaughtered, and when Sikhs across the nation learned of this occurrence, they all headed toward Punjab. The Indian troops prevented them from getting there, resulting in a bloodbath that resulted in thousands of deaths of Sikhs. This anger at Sikhs sparked an uprising that resulted in Indira Gandhi’s assassination in October 1984. The Khalistan Movement also started quickly in result of violence against Sikh community.
A non-governmental group called Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) works for the Sikh community across the world. Under the harsh “Unlawful Activities Prevention Act” (UAPA), Indian authorities outlawed SFJ in 2019 and designated the organization’s General Council as a “terrorist”.
A few years back, Indian former cricketer and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu was accused of a case that occurred more than 35 years ago, he was sentenced to jail for one year. In another incident, in which a famous ‘Punjabi singer’ Sindhu Moose Wala was killed. His murder is again proof of Indian hatred against minorities. Friends and family members have referred to it as BJP and Hindu extreme cruelty, but the security forces have described it as inter-gang fighting.
After December 2021, Preet came under criticism and hatred campaigns by the Indian Government when she called Hindus “Hindu Terrorist” in a tweet due to Hindu barbarism against the Sikh community and their violence at Golden Temple, which later on she deleted. Preet Kaur, a Sikh lady who is a Member of Parliament in Britain, has been threatened by an email asking her to “watch your back”. One such recent event involves the threatening email received by Preet Kaur, a Sikh Member of Parliament in Britain, urging her to “watch your back.”
Recent events where Sikhs are being killed on foreign land by Indian nationals have further intensified concerns over the treatment of minorities in India. The implementation of controversial policies and actions by the Government have sparked outrage both domestically and internationally. This alarming incident highlights the risks faced by individuals who speak out against perceived injustices, indicating a concerning trend of intimidation and harassment against Sikh representatives. This incident underscores the persistence of communal tensions and acts of violence against minority communities, further challenging the notion of a harmonious and inclusive society.
The Indian Government’s discrimination against the Sikh community can be observed after the opening of the ‘Kartarpur Corridor’ by the Pakistan Government. After the opening ceremony, Navjot Singh Sidhu was banned to appear on TV and removed from a famous comedy show due to his remarks on the Kashmir issue during the opening ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor. Moreover, the Indian Government warned Sikh Pilgrims for accepting Pakistani hospitality. Further, they told the pilgrims that their lives were in danger in Pakistan but the Sikh community rejected their propaganda. Furthermore, last year, Indian security forces launched a ‘massive cordon and search operation’ and suspended internet and mobile services across the Punjab to arrest the pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh. Indian security forces have arrested around 100 people, who were demanding the creation of ‘Khalistan’ along with their leader Amritpal Singh. The way the Indian Government is using force against the capture of Amritpal, it could be predicted that Indian security forces may kill Amritpal in a fake encounter in coming days. If it happens, the situation will worsen for the Indian Government as well.
The most recent manifestation of BJP Government’s intolerance towards ethno-religious minorities, which also reflects their Hindutva mindset, is when the Pakistani Government came forward with proof of busting an alleged RAW Network, on 25 January, 2024, which was involved in carrying out paid murders of religious personalities, Afghans and Kashmiris living in Pakistan. The Pakistani Government has alleged and produced what it considers “credible evidence” connecting Indian participation in the assassinations. Such activities constitute a persistent breach of international law, particularly the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary stated that the Indian network of extrajudicial and extraterritorial killings has become a worldwide phenomenon, as evidenced by Indian operatives’ involvement in similar activities in Canada and the United States. He emphasized the importance of prosecuting the murderers, facilitators, and financiers involved in these assassinations. Indian operatives must face prosecution for their extrajudicial and extraterritorial killings in other nations. Indians have inherited hatred for Kashmiris because of having a Muslim majority in the valley. Since the separation of sub-continent, Kashmiris have been the victim of Indian discrimination and injustice.
In conclusion, India which portrays itself as a secular state, in reality, is a fascist state. Minorities in India are not safe. The identity crisis India is facing today can lead to the end of India as predicted by Khushwant Singh in 2003. These recent events serve as poignant reminders of the complex challenges faced by minorities in India, particularly the Sikh community. The ongoing narrative of discrimination, threats, and violence against minorities underscores the urgency for international attention and intervention to address human rights violations and foster a more inclusive and tolerant society in India. By considering the Hindutva ideology, the Sikh community should be granted a separate independent land because, like other minorities, Sikh lives are in extreme danger in India under the fascist Modi Government.
