While India looks hawkish on Balochistan, Sikh leader pins hope in Pakistan for Khalistan

Not only did Amarjit Singh accused India of infringing the rights of Sikh community, he also validated the Pakistani claim that human rights are being violated in Kashmir Valley.

Islamabad, Sep 24: Secessionist Sikh leader Dr Amarjit Singh has demanded the intervention of Pakistan to create Khalistan out of the Indian state of Punjab. According to Amarjit Singh, Khalistan could has turned into a reality if the Pakistani leadership in 1984 would had taken carefully calculated steps. He further opined that Sikhs in India are still feeling oppressed under the Indian regime, and are eagerly awaiting to fulfill their agenda of creating a separate Khalistan. The contentious claims by Amarjit Singh were made during his interview with Daily Pakistan.

Not only did Amarjit Singh accused India of infringing the rights of Sikh community, he also validated the Pakistani claims that human rights are being violated in Kashmir Valley. The Khalistani ideologue accused India of unleashing brutal oppression against the people of Kashmir since they are struggling for their right of self-determination. He further indicated that the Uri terror attack could be a false flag operation to deflect attention of the international community from the current situation in the Valley. To validate his allegations, Amarjit recalled the massacre of 35 Sikhs in Anantnag in 2000, days before the arrival of the then US President Bill Clinton. India had blamed Pakistan-based anti-India jihad outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba for the gruesome terror assault.

Amarjit claimed that the Khalistani movement began immediately after the independence, but was peaceful in nature. He quoted the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru as saying, “I have no objection that if brave Sikhs of Punjab are given a province in the north so that they are also able to experience the glow of freedom.” Relying on the statements of Nehru, Amarjit asserted that Sikhs should be given the right to self-determination in India. He further added that Sikh youth were forced to launch an armed insurgency struggle in 1980s due to their suppression with an iron fist by Indian regime. Recalling ‘Operation Woodrose’, Amarjit claimed that Sikh individuals were allegedly abducted by Indian forces and murdered. (ALSO READ: Nearly 1,000 bodies recovered from Balochistan in last six years: Report)

Further justifying the cause of Khalistan, Amarjit alleged that nearly seven to eight thousands Sikhs in India were burned to death in the aftermath of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s death.

According to Amarjit, India would fail to survive as a nation since the country is comprised of dozens of different communities. He opined that India, as a nation, was destroyed when British ran over the Maratha empire, subdued the Mughals under Bahadur Shah Zafar, and restricted the rule of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh. However, Amarjit justified the existence of Pakistan on communal line, calling Muhammad Ali Jinnah a visionary who safeguarded the interests of Muslims.

The controversial opinions aired by the Khalistani leader comes at a time when India has rejuvenated its effort to delink Balochistan from Pakistan. New Delhi is expected to give political asylum to prominent Baloch secessionist leader Brahamdagh Bugti.

Here is the complete interview of Amarjit Singh with Daily Pakistan: