There seems to be a gradual resurgence of secessionist movements and separatism in India ever since the racist BJP government took control and started spreading the RSS-inspired ideology. These movements had been losing control but today India is facing an insurgency in at least 22 states.
The most recent incident happened a day before Indian Independence Day when the flag of Khalistan was unfurled at the district administrative building in the town of Moga in India’s Punjab state and the tri-colour flag was removed. The Khalistan movement started when the Sikhs started demanding a separate homeland. The situation worsened in 1984 when the Indian army launched an operation at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the holiest site for Sikhs. There was retribution and the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikhs bodyguards and riots ensued in which scores of Sikhs were killed.
The Indian government attempted to crush the insurgency which moved abroad and is today supported by the Sikh diaspora. They have prepared their own passport, currency and a declaration of independence. The policies of the BJP government is causing a revival as Sikhs are losing jobs and the future of students supporting the Khalistan movement or having insurgent tendencies appears bleak.
Another region where there has been a revival in insurgency is the north-eastern state of Nagaland. The tiny state bordering Myanmar is one of India’s oldest and bloodiest insurgent movements since 1956. Recently, an incident happened in which several militants were seen crossing the border. The BJP government wants to strike a peace deal with the Naga militants but there are wary of Modi’s intention.
In Kashmir, the BJP government unilaterally annexed the autonomous region by revoking Article 35 of India’s Constitution and trifurcated the state. The Naga militants realise this as they demand more autonomy or even a separate homeland. In northeast India, there is another factor that comes in play and that is the role of China. The Chinese humiliated India in Laddakh seizing control and now the BJP government except for veiled threats does not want to ruffle the Chinese again.
India is currently facing both internal and external problems which are exacerbated by the divisive policies of the BJP government. The Kashmir dispute has been gaining traction than ever before and India is moving its eventual fate to become a more divided nation.
ADVERTISEMENT
