2023 Sikh protests
Part of the Khalistan movement
DateMarch 2023
Location
India Punjab, India
 Canada
 Australia
 New Zealand
 United States
 United Kingdom
Caused byManhunt of Amritpal Singh by the Indian authorities
MethodsDemonstrations, blockades and rallies
Parties

In March 2023, pro-Khalistan Sikhs protested across the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Punjab, India, against the manhunt of the pro-Khalistan separatist Amritpal Singh and crackdown on his organisation Waris Punjab De, carried out by the Indian authorities.[1] In the United States Sikh activists demonstrated in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento and New York City.[2]

Background

On 18 March 2023, Indian authorities launched a manhunt for Amritpal Singh after he was accused by police of attempted murder, obstruction of law enforcement and creating "disharmony" in society.[3][4]

During the manhunt, Indian authorities deployed thousands of paramilitary police and restricted mobile Internet and mobile messaging services for nearly 30 million people across the Punjab state.[5] Indian authorities also arrested more than 200 people while conducting a massive manhunt.[6][7][8] Meanwhile, Singh was nowhere to be found.[9]

After more than a month, on 23 April 2023, Singh was arrested from Rode village in Moga district, Punjab. Later, he was taken to the high-security Dibrugarh jail in Assam state.[10]

Events

On 15 March 2023, the Honorary Consulate of India located in Brisbane, Australia, was forced to temporarily shut down after Khalistan supporters blockaded the entry.[11]

On 19 March 2023, Singh's supporters pulled down the Indian flag and waved the Khalistan flag instead at the India House, London. They also broke a window.[12][13] In reaction India summoned Britain's most senior diplomat and removed barracides outside of the British High Commission in New Delhi.[14] Two security guards suffered minor injury and a protester was later arrested in connection to the incident.[15]

In Mohali, Punjab and Sohana Chowk hundreds of protesters under the Kaumi Insaaf Morcha blocked important roads to the airport. Heavy police deployment occurred with multiple high ranking officers arriving to the site. Some left after leaders requested the protest end but many stayed.[16] The protest led to delays in traffic. Some protesters created stone and brick walls which blocked service lanes and slip roads bring the traffic to a full halt. Nihangs were there on horses brandishing weapons. All traffic coming from Chandigarh had been diverted as police barracatied all four doors leading to Sohana Chowk.[17] After three days of the roads being blocked on 22 March police cleared the protesters arresting 25 people. Police also seized weapons including swords, farm tools, and spears. The Superintendent of Police (SP), Navreet Singh Varak was injured along with four other officers.[18]

On 20 March 2023, the supporters of the Khalistan movement also vandalized the Indian Consulate in San Francisco with a graffiti reading '#FreeAmritpal'.[19][20] In Surrey a protest was held at the Taj Park Convention Centre where the Indian High Commissioner was to be welcomed. Sameer Kaushal a journalist and new director was assaulted.[21] In Vancouver, a small group of UBC students protested outside Walter C. Koerner Library. The protesters later joined a bigger rally outside of the Vancouver Art Gallery.[22]

On 25 March 2023, about 500 people rallied to protest crackdowns targeting Sikhs in Punjab, India at the Consulate General of India in Vancouver, Canada. Moninder Singh a spokesman for the British Columbia Gurdwara Council said, “We're here to show our dissent, our displeasure against the Indian state for this suspension of civil liberties and violation of human rights".[23][24][25] A small group held a protest on the same day outside the North Peace Cultural Centre in Fort St. John to, “raise awareness against ongoing human rights violations in Punjab.”[26][27]

On 26 March 2023, a protest was held outside the Indian embassy in Washington, D.C. The Press Trust of India's Washington D.C-based Chief, Lalit K. Jha, was hit by protesters. He described the assault saying, "The gentleman… hit my left ear with these two sticks and earlier I had to call 911 and rushed [to a] police van [for] safety fearing a public assault."[28]

On 27 March 2023, the Akal Takht held a gathering with over 50 Sikh organisations. After they gave an ultimatum to the Punjab Government which was to release all Sikhs arrested in the past 10 days within 24 hours.[29] The Akal Takht further announced it would launch its own Vaheer if the demand is not met.[30] The Akal Takht also announced it would give financial assistance to the families of those who have been charged under the NSA act.[31] Along with this protests were held outside the Akal Takht and Golden Temple.[32]

On 27 March 2023, a protest was held in Toronto outside the Indian consulate where an Indian flag was burned.[33] Another protest was held in Time Square, New York City. Protesters held a car rally. The protesters had an LED billboard truck showing Amritpal Singh. They also had purchased billboards in Times Square which showed Amritpal Singh along with Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.[34][35]

Reaction

In March 2023, Canada's High Commissioner was summoned by India to "convey strong concern" over Sikh protesters in Canada.[36]

In September 2023, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed concerns about the protests in Canada to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.[37]

References

  1. ↑ "Protests over action against Amritpal Singh erupt in 4 countries, India objects". Hindustan Times. 21 March 2023.
  2. ↑ Kaur, Brahmjot (23 March 2023). "Protests erupt across the U.S. amid internet shutdown in India and manhunt for activist". www.nbcnews.com.
  3. ↑ "Khalistan: The outlawed Sikh separatist movement that has Indian authorities on edge". CNN. 22 March 2023.
  4. ↑ Jaiswal, PK (20 March 2023). "Know about criminal cases that led to crackdown on Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh". The Tribune. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  5. ↑ "India's Manhunt for a Hardline Sikh Leader Leads to Internet Shutdowns and Global Protests". Time. 23 March 2023.
  6. ↑ Lawler, Dave (23 March 2023). "Manhunt for Sikh separatist in India stirs up old fears". Axios.
  7. ↑ "India arrests more than 100 people in manhunt for Sikh separatist". www.aljazeera.com. 20 March 2023.
  8. ↑ "Manhunt for fugitive Sikh separatist puts India's Punjab on edge". Financial Times. 4 April 2023.
  9. ↑ "India Cuts Off Internet to 27 Million People to Catch One Man". www.vice.com. 22 March 2023.
  10. ↑ "Amritpal Singh: Sikh separatist arrested after weeks on the run". BBC News. 23 April 2023.
  11. ↑ "Brisbane's Indian Consulate forced to close down by Khalistan supporters as Police watched on". The Australia Today. 16 March 2023.
  12. ↑ "India Blasts UK as National Flag Pulled Down in London". Bloomberg. 20 March 2023.
  13. ↑ "How India's hunt for Amritpal Singh caused diplomatic row with UK". Al Jazeera. 23 March 2023.
  14. ↑ Sharma, Yashraj (28 March 2023). "India can't find a Sikh separatist leader, but its manhunt has got the world's attention". www.nbcnews.com. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  15. ↑ "Windows smashed at India consulates in London, San Francisco". AP NEWS. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  16. ↑ "Crackdown against Amritpal: Sikh protesters block Sohana chowk in Mohali". Hindustan Times. 19 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  17. ↑ "Crackdown on Amritpal: 36 hours on, Sikh protesters keep chokehold on Sohana Chowk". Hindustan Times. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  18. ↑ "Police get cracking after 3 days, clear Sohana Chowk of Amritpal supporters". Hindustan Times. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  19. ↑ "India police seek Sikh leader, arrest separatist supporters". Associated Press. 23 March 2023.
  20. ↑ "Windows smashed at India consulates in London, San Francisco". AP NEWS. 20 March 2023.
  21. ↑ "Journalist allegedly assaulted as Punjab tensions spill over into B.C. | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  22. ↑ Arora, Aadya. "Sikh students hold protest at UBC, downtown Vancouver against human rights violations in Punjab". The Ubyssey. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  23. ↑ "Hundreds gather in Vancouver to protest crackdown in India's Sikh-majority state". CBC News. 25 March 2023.
  24. ↑ "Hundreds protest outside Indian Consulate in Vancouver held by Sikh community, supporters". globalnews.ca. 25 March 2023.
  25. ↑ "Amritpal Singh protests in Canada: India worried over security at its missions". Hindustan Times. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  26. ↑ Singh, Manavpreet (28 March 2023). "Fort St. John Sikhs hold protest against human rights issues in India". Energeticcity.ca. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  27. ↑ "Fort St. John Sikhs holding protest against human rights issues in India". Yahoo News. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  28. ↑ Bikhchandani, Raghav (26 March 2023). "Indian journalist 'attacked' at pro-Amritpal protest in Washington, embassy condemns 'wanton violence'". ThePrint. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  29. ↑ "Akal Takht serves 24-hour ultimatum on Punjab Government to release supporters of pro-Khalistan activist Amritpal Singh".
  30. ↑ Patial, Jagwinder (27 March 2023). "Akal Takht Jathedar Gives Ultimatum To Punjab Govt To Release Arrested Sikh Youths In 24 Hours". ABP Live. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  31. ↑ "'Release all arrested Sikhs within 24 hrs': Sri Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar's ulti". True Scoop News. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  32. ↑ "Pro-Khalistan protests at Golden Temple as hardliners back Amritpal Singh". Hindustan Times. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  33. ↑ "Amritpal Singh protests in Canada: India worried over security at its missions". Hindustan Times. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  34. ↑ "Khalistan supporters protest at Times Square in New York".
  35. ↑ "Amritpal Singh, Bhindranwale billboard in Times Square; Netizens slam 'glorification of terrorists'". Hindustan Times. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  36. ↑ "India summons Canada High Commissioner, concerned over Sikh protesters". Reuters. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  37. ↑ "Modi scolds Trudeau over Sikh protests in Canada against India". Reuters. 11 September 2023.
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