Understanding the Idea of Khalistan: An Interview with Amritpal Singh

Amritpal Singh’s case is hot in Punjab. Chief of Waris Punjab De Amritpal is continuously giving separatist tunes. Sometimes he says Punjab is a separate country and sometimes he questions the constitution. The attitude of Amritpal Singh, who dressed like Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who was the face of extremism in Punjab in the 80s, has become a source of trouble.

Meanwhile, Amritpal has said in an interview that in a democracy, if someone stands up and says that we do not have any relation with this country, then giving respect to him also comes in the spirit of democracy. Amritpal and his supporters recently staged a violent protest outside the Ajnala police station in Amritsar. Amritpal’s aide Lovepreet Singh Toofani was released on the court’s order.

In an interview given to News Laundry Hindi, Amritpal said, ‘Democracy is not such a complicated subject that cannot be talked about. Democracy is made only when everyone comes together. In a democracy, if someone stands up and says that he is not a Hindu, then he should be respected. In the same way if someone standing in a democracy says that we do not belong to this country. We want to keep our point in peace. We want to have a separate country and we want freedom.

On the issue of Khalistan, Amritpal said, ‘We do not talk about Khalistan because there is talk of a Hindu nation. The idea of talking about Khalistan came in 1920. When there was talk of partition of India-Pakistan, then the idea of Khalistan came with the name. Many people don’t even know this. They think it is a phenomenon of the 80s. Khalistan also came in the 1940s. If you enter Punjab, you see pictures of Bhindranwale. No one can deny this. If you ask any person in any village of Punjab, he will say with folded hands that Sant Bhindranwale is our hero.