Reference to Sant Bhindranwale by Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha could be part of a broader strategy.....by Jagtar Singh

Union Home Minister Amit Shah made a forceful assertion in the Rajya Sabha on March 21 in the context of the Sikh religio-political discourse in Punjab, although in a passing reference.

Issue of federalism was part of the deliberations at a conclave of non-BJP chief ministers in Chennai that was called by Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin. The 1978 resolution of the Shiromani Akali Dal on federalism came under reference at this meeting.

The headline of a newspaper on March 18 stated: “India calls for US action on the pro-Khalistan group”. There is common thread in all these three developments and that thread is the religio-political discourse that was unleashed in Punjab decades back.

There is a common thread, of course, but it is a reference to Sant Bhindranwale that calls for deeper insight as the Bharatiya Janata Party is focusing on Punjab to capture much larger space in the run up to 2027 Assembly elections. In this context, this reference might not be so casual.

Here is how Amit Shah has been quoted by a newspaper: Union home minister Amit Shah, briefing the Rajya Sabha on Friday, highlighted how his ministry tackled extremist Amritpal Singh in Punjab saying the “wannabe Bhindranwale is peacefully reciting Guru Granth Sahib in Assam jail”.  (The Times of India, March 18, 2025) Prime Minister Indira Gandhi used to refer to Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale as “Bhinderanwala”.

Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale needs no introduction

He was the man who commanded the Sikh religio-political armed struggle till June 6, 1984 starting with his meteoric rise in a short span after he took over as head of Sikh seminary Damdami Taksal in August 1977 after his predecessor Sant Kartar Singh died in a road accident. Sant Bhindranwale   confronting the Indian army in front of the Akal Takht in the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) complex in Operation Bluestar launched on June 3.

Was he Khalistani?

The record says “No”. Here is how he clarified this issue on March 27, 1983: “We are neither opposed to it nor support it. We are silent. One thing, however, is certain. In case given by Queen of India (Reference to prime minister Indira Gandhi) we would take it for sure, won’t refuse it. Would not repeat mistake of 1947 but we don’t demand it yet”. (Jagtar Singh: Sikh Struggle Documents 1920-2022, Aakar, Delhi, 2025, pp. 89-90).

Here is his statement that is referred to by the Khalistan advocates: “The day police attack, the establishment of Khalistan would definitely become an example in the world. Khalistan would definitely be created that day”. (Ibid, p. 90).

Here is his statement that is referred to by the Khalistan advocates: “The day police attack, the establishment of Khalistan would definitely become an example in the world. Khalistan would definitely be created that day”. (Ibid, p. 90).

Here is yet another statement of May 31, 1983: “We are for unity and integrity of the country. Cooperate with each other. If the government wants peace, then it should accept the Anandpur Sahib Resolution. Peace can’t be restored without implementation of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution. It is for government to decide whether peace is to be maintained or disturbed…we are neither in favour of Khalistan nor opposed to it. We want to remain in this country. The central government should tell us whether we are to be kept in this country or not. In case Khalistan is offered this time, we would heartily accept it, would definitely have it and not repeat the mistake of 1947. We don’t demand it but would not refuse it”. (Ibid., p. 90).

What were the cases registered against him  before June 6, 1984?

This dimension too is very important.

As per the reply provided by Deputy Inspector General of Police, border range, dated September 27, 2017 in response to question under RTI, it has been clearly stated that no case was registered against Sant Bhindranwale from 1978 to 1984.

But the fact remains that decades after his death, Sant Bhindranwale continues to dictate one stream in Sikh religio-political matrix. This is the discourse that has impacted India’s geo-politics too. Amit Shah referred to Amritpal Singh in the context of Sant Bhindranwale.

Amritpal is member of Parliament  elected in 2024 elections with the highest margin in Punjab and is currently detained under National Security Act in far off Dibrugarh jail in Assam. He hit the headlines when he returned from Dubai a few years ago and landed on the scene copying style of Sant Bhindranwale. However, lifestyle of Sant Bhindranwale was different.

NSA has been revoked against seven of his associates and they have been brought back and arrested in different cases by Punjab police. Amritpal is likely to be brought back after his NSA ends in June.

Is there some sort of design to polarise political discourse in Punjab in the run up to 2027? The possibility can’t be ruled out. The third dimension under discussion here is federalism.

The Chennai conclave was attended from Punjab by chief minister Bhagwant Mann and Shiromani Akali Dal delegation comprising Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Dr. Daljeet Singh Cheema.

Mann focussed mainly on delimitation while the Akali Dal leaders talked of autonomy to states and referred to 1978 resolution of Akali Dal adopted at its Ludhiana conference.

Here goes the 1978 resolution: “(Moved by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Gurcharan Singh Tohra and seconded by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.)..

“Shiromani Akali Dal realizes that India is a federal and geographical entity of different languages, religions and cultures. To safeguard fundamental rights of the religious and linguistic minorities, to fulfil the demands of the democratic traditions and to pave the way for economic progress, it has become imperative that that the constitutional infrastructure should be given federal shape by redefining central and state relations and rights on the lines of the aforesaid principle and objectives. The concept of total revolution given by Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan is also based upon the progressive decentralization of powers. The climax of the process of decentralization of powers of the states through repeated amendments of the constitution during the Congress regime came in the form of Emergency when all fundamental rights of the citizens were usurped. It was then that the doctrine of decentralization of powers advocated by the Shiromani Akali dal was supported and adopted by other political parties including the Janata Party, CPI (N) and the ADMK etc. Shiromani Akali Dal has been consistent on this principle and that is why after a very careful consideration, the party unanimously adopted the resolution advocating state autonomy in the framework of the federal principles for the first time at the All India Akali Conference at Batala and then followed it up with the historic Anandpur Sahib Resolution in 1973. As such, the Shiromani Akali Dal emphatically urges upon the Janata government to take cognizance of the different linguistic and cultural entities, religious minorities as also the voice of millions of people and recast the constitutional structure of the country on real and meaningful federal principles to obviate the possibility of any danger to national unity and integrity of the country and further, to enable the state to play effective role for the progress and prosperity of the Indian people in their respective areas by meaningful exercise of their powers.”

(Jagtar Singh: Sikh Struggle Documents 1920-2022, pp. 139-40).

During the Dharamyudh Morcha launched on August 4, 1982, the Shiromani Akali Dal had demanded autonomy in the framework of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution of 1978 that states: “The political goal of the Panth, without doubt, is enshrined in the commandments of the Tenth Lord, on the pages of the Sikh history and in the very heart of the Khalsa Panth, the ultimate objective of which is the pre-eminence of the Khalsa. The fundamental policy of the Shiromani Akali Dal is to seek realization of this birth right of the Khalsa through creation of a geo-political environment and a political set up. ….The  Shiromani Akali Dal would also endeavor to have the Indian Constitution recast on real federal principles, with equal representation at the Centre for all the states.” (Ibid., pp. 130-131)

The resolution on Khalistan is a separate issue.

March 23, 2025