You might be wondering why the Sikhs who played a key role in the struggle to free the South Asian sub-continent from British rule and Opposed its fragmentation on the basis of religion are now fighting to secede from India and carve out a separate Sikh state-the Republic of Khalistan. Viewed in historical context you will find that betrayals exploitations injustices and atrocities by Indias rulers since independence on August 151947 has forced on us the decision to part Company with India.

When the freedom struggle (Swaraj Movement) was started by the All India Congress Committee in 1919 its leaders made unequivocal promises that the Sikhs would enjoy equality with the majority community in all respects that they would have complete autonomy to run the affairs of their homeland that their language (Punjabi) would enjoy the status of an official language that their cultural values and national identify as Sikhs would be honored and protected and that there would be no discrimination against them on the grounds of religious beliefs.

Since inheriting power from the British in 1947 however the Indian rulers have persistently violated these promises which were the basis for opting to remain in the Indian Union instead of following the Muslim example and seeking a separate and sovereign state.

Instead of being treated as equals we have been reduced to second class citizens.

Instead of allowing us autonomy the Indian rulers have fragmented our homeland to create Hindu majority states of Haryana and Himachal Pardesh thus depriving the Punjab of vast territories and natural resources.

Punjabi language has been denied recognition as an official language.

Our cultural values and national identity have been denied recognition and subjected to official interference and malicious attacks.

The Sikhs are discriminated against in all walks of life simply because they subscribe to a faith different from that of the majority community.

The Sikhs are being persistently deprived of their fair share of wealth and opportunities by diverting their river waters to the neighboring Hindu states thus destroying their industrial potential by depriving them of the power generated by their rivers and forcibly acquiring their agricultural produce at throw away prices.

When the Sikhs protested against these betrayals exploitations and injustices and demanded that the promises made to win their support during the struggle for independence be honored they were arrogantly told that the promises were no longer binding because the situation had changed.

Thousands of peaceful protesters were jailed and hundreds of them killed by the Indian Government agencies till 1982. This was a bid to crush our spirits and make us reconciled to the lot of second class citizens of India and virtual slaves of the majority community which all the successive ruler’s variably belonged.

False accusations were made against the Sikhs to make the world believe they were lawless hooligans acting to destabilize India.

When instead of being cowed down by these high-handed measures a peaceful protest movement was launched in 1982 to mobilize the Sikh masses to press their just demands the Indian rulers stepped up the repression of Sikhs.

This repression culminated in the Indian Army’s Operation Blue Star in June 1984 in which our shrines were invaded desecrated and vandalized thousands of pilgrims were murdered and thousands more imprisoned.

With the avenues of peaceful struggle closed to us we were left with no choice but to launch the struggle for liberation from India.

Since the launch of our war of independence in 1984 the Indian rulers have.

Stepped up their malicious propaganda that the Sikhs are lawless terrorists.

Sponsored gangs of convicted criminals to rob and kill innocent civilians so that Sikhs may be blamed for these atrocities;

Killed more than 100,000 Sikhs under false pretexts of encounters with security forces;

Encouraged the security forces to humiliate the Sikh nation by raping its womenfolk; and

Used India’s trade potential to pressure world governments against us.

This dear reader is only a brief outline of why we have decided to say goodbye to the Indian Union and have launched our struggle for independence and establishment of Khalistan.

We appeal to you to press your government to impose sanctions against India to dissuade her from the violation of Sikhs’ human rights and to induce her to negotiate the modality of withdrawal from our homeland.

Article extracted from this publication >> July 3, 1992