Over the past few days, the northern part of the country has been plunged into a new wave of unrest as farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh march towards Delhi, reviving previous protests. The alleged objective behind the protests is to put pressure on the government to accept their demands, stating that the government has not fulfilled the promises made during the protests for 2020-21. The resurgence of this unrest is deeply rooted in the events of 2020 when the central government passed three farm bills in Parliament. However, these bills were widely opposed by farmers, mainly in the northern region. This protest by farmers ultimately forced the central government to withdraw all three bills a few months after they became law.
One striking aspect in this farmer protest saga that caught everyone’s attention is the attempt to revive the Khalistan movement, a movement that calls for a separate homeland for Sikhs. This separatist movement first gained its momentum in the 70s and 80s. However, the movement was suppressed after the government successfully eliminated religious militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in Operation Blue Star. But, the movement has regained momentum in recent years, especially after the significant participation of Sikh farmers in the farmer protests. The protest was initially centered around fighting for farmers rights, but saw a change in its goal due to the infiltration of Khalistan separatists.
With the recent resumption of farmer protest, the term ‘Khalistan’ is resonating again in the northern region, indicating a potential effort to propagate the Khalistan movement’s agenda. Many videos have emerged from the protest site where protesters are openly demanding the formation of Khalistan state. The mayhem uncovering under the guise of the farmer protests raises questions about whether this is truly a fight for farmers rights or if there is some parallel agenda beyond the publicly declared goals of the protests. In today’s analysis report, we aim to uncover the true motives behind this protest and how it is much more complex than it originally appeared.
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Unearthing the attempt to resurrect the Khalistan movement
The 2020 protest led by farmers was initially peaceful and self-disciplined as farmers were only protesting against bills that they believed would adversely affect their lives. However, the situation gradually deteriorated as anti-India elements or proponents of the Khalistan movement were plotting to exploit the protests. The fight for farmers rights became more chaotic and violent after protesters hijacked the Singhu border in Delhi. The growing unrest on the border was a sign of infiltration of the protests by separatists.
Amid the ongoing protests that year, Indian agencies conducted a massive crackdown on NGOs linked to Khalistan elements who were working tirelessly to instigate protests. The crackdown brought one prominent name on the radar of Indian agencies, ‘Sikhs for Justice‘ (SFJ), a US-based organization founded by Sikh leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in 2009 that works towards secession of Punjab from India. This radical organization was highly suspected of exploiting the anti-government sentiments of farmers to promote pent-up Khalistan sentiments in the state of Punjab.
The ISI backed, SFJ, which was working towards the ‘Punjab Independence Referendum 2020‘, was a controversial initiative aimed at garnering support for the creation of an independent state for the Sikhs. The purpose of Referendum 2020 was to conduct a non-binding vote among the Sikh diaspora to garner support for the formation of Khalistan. SFJ had been planning to cause mayhem in India for a long time, and the farmer protests provided a conducive path for their agenda.
SFJ’s role in exacerbating the farmer protest
As per The Indian Express article dated January 22, 2021, on December 15, 2020 FIR registered after a complaint by the MHA which stated that SFJ “and other Khalistani terrorist outfits including but not limited to Babbar Khalsa International, Khalistan Tiger Force and Khalistan Zindabad Force” along with their frontal organizations, have entered into a conspiracy to “create an atmosphere of fear and lawlessness and to cause disaffection in people and to incite them towards rising in rebellion” against the Government of India.”
The FIR was registered under sections 120 B (Criminal Conspiracy), 124 A (Sedition), 153 A (Promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 153 B (Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration) of Indian Penal Code and under sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
According to the FIR lodged by the NIA, the SFJ, along with other pro-Khalistan terror organisations, was trying to instigate fear and discontent among the protesters against the government. Huge funds were allocated for on-ground campaign to carry out their conspiracy against India. The NIA also discovered that huge sums of money were sent through NGOs to pro-Khalistan elements based in India to damage the government and give rise to the large scale disruptive activities.
In addition to allocating funds to instigate protests, the SFJ was actively running an online campaign to incite anti-government sentiments among young protesters. According to an India Today report dated January 13, 2021, SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun attempted to woo the protesters by releasing a video promising a reward of 2.5 lakh US dollars to those who will replace Indian flag with the Khalistani flag at the Red Fort on Republic Day. This provocation resulted in large-scale violence on 26 January, in which Sikh protesters broke police barricades on their tractors and hoisted the Sikh flag (Nishan Sahib) flag at Red Fort.
Later Gurpatwant Singh Pannu also released a video hailing this action of the protestors. He was also calling upon people to participate in the protests in large numbers and taking out tractor rallies by luring them to give them foreign citizenship.
In the aftermath of the January 26 violence, one name that made headline was of actor Deep Sidhu, who is known for his support of Khalistan and had spoken openly about terrorist Bhindranwale. India Today reported that Deep Sidhu, along with gangster Lakha Sidhana, played a major role in inciting violence on Republic Day. The investigation revealed that there was a pre-conceived and well-planned plan to break the agreement between Delhi Police and the leaders of the protesting organizations. Sidhu was arrested from Karnal on February 9, 2021. He also reportedly founded the organization “Waris Punjab De” allegedly to protect the rights of farmers, but it vehemently turned into a Khalistani organization.
Farmer protestors hailing terrorist Bhindranwale and SFJ
Sikh flag was hoisted at the Red Fort, CNN-News 18 had revealed in its report that the SFJ flag was seen at the Singhu border and slogan calling for the formation of Khalistan state was raised.
Another incident highlighting pro-Khalistan sentiments among protesters occurred on September 25, 2021. Zee News reports that in Ambala, the Indian Army convoy was stopped by farmers and pro-Khalistan slogans were raised. Earlier, another exclusive report by Zee News on YouTube on December 1, 2020, talked about a tractor present at the protest site with ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ written on it.
Furthermore, according to Jagran report of January 16, 2021, photographs of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and terrorist Jagtar Singh Hawara were adorned on tractor-trolleys and vehicles at Singhu border.
These startling details strongly indicated that the protest was hijacked by Khalistan supporters ever since it started. At this stage, the real purpose behind the protest seemed to be buried somewhere, evolving into a movement advocating for a separate homeland for Sikhs.
The SFJ had successfully managed to inflame the anti-government sentiments among the protestors. One such radical protester at the protest site boasted about the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and openly issued a death threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating “December 3 ko meeting hai, agar hal koi hua toh thik hai nahin toh…aap jaante nahin…hamare shaheed Udham Singh ne goro ko Canada me jake thoka…Indira thok di…Modi ki chhati mein…”(If no solution is reached at in the December 3 meeting, you don’t know, our Shaheed Udham Singh shot the colonizers in Canada. Indira Gandhi was taken down. Similarly, in Modi’s chest…”).
The pro-Khalistan sentiments of the protest gained attention again on July 25, 2021, when the Samyukt Kisan Morcha suspended farmer union leader Ruldu Singh Mansa for criticizing Khalistani terrorist Bhindranwale and SFJ’s Pannu during his speech. The decision came after 32 Sikh groups objected to Mansa’s speech, saying it hurt Sikh sentiments. In his speech he addressed Khalistan elements infiltrating the protests and indirectly took a dig at terrorist Bhindranwale and terrorist organization SFJ.
Poetic Justice Foundation toolkit against India
The another significant development unfolded during the protest was the toolkit mistakenly tweeted by the Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. The toolkit exposed the names of several organizations, journalists and celebrities conspiring to target India on the global scale. One such name in the toolkit was ‘Poetic Justice Foundation.’ It was founded by Canada based Khalistan supporters Mo Dhaliwal and Anita Lal. The toolkit outlined the campaign intended to cause more disruption in India and also mentioned the ‘Ask India Why’ campaign aimed at fueling Khalistan sentiments under the guise of farmer protest. Essentially, this toolkit comprised the set of anti-India propaganda planned to disseminate through online medium.
Now if we talk about Mo Dhaliwal, founder of Poetic Justice Foundation, he is a supporter of Khalistan and has openly supported the Khalistan movement. Dhaliwal, in one of his Facebook posts, has extended his support to the Khalistan movement and supported the idea of a separate homeland for Sikhs. In a study conducted by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, a leading Canadian think tank based in Ottawa, it was revealed that Mr. Dhaliwal uses his NGO platform to support Khalistan.
Co-founder Anita Lal, a Canadian resident, is also a supporter of the Khalistan movement. Following the violence by Sikh protesters on 26 January, which included the removal of the tricolour, Anita defended their actions and justified the violence.
These multifaceted incidents again raise questions about the true nature of the farmer protests and show that the protests were nothing more than a desperate attempt to reinvigorate the Khalistan propaganda. From the very beginning, the protests were promoting a parallel agenda, strategically designed to pave the way for a Khalistan state. Unlike previous protests, where Khalistan propaganda was subtly propagated, recent farmer unrest has taken more explicit turn, openly calling for the formation of Khalistan.
Khalistan propaganda continues under the guise of farmer protest 2.0
In the past protest T-shirts with Bhindranwale prints and Khalistani music dominated the farmers protest sites on the NCR borders. In the current unrest, a similar pattern is being seen. In a video posted by propagandist Ajit Anjum on his YouTube channel on February 16, protesters at the Shambhu border are seen wearing T-shirts with pictures of Khalistan movement leader Bhindranwale.
Additional alarming videos have emerged from the protest site. In a video, farmers are seen climbing the sign boards and putting up posters of terrorist Bhindranwale, Khalistani organization Waris Punjab leader Amritpal Singh and Khalistani supporter Deep Sidhu. The shocking visuals make it very apparent that the protest is not just about MSP and farmers rights.
The so-called farmers climbed the sign board and put up posters of terrorist Bhindranwale, Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh and Khalistan supporter Deep Sidhu.
— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) February 17, 2024
Are these posters related to MSP and farmers? What type of farmers' protest is this? pic.twitter.com/fMzYnL1ld8
The alleged farmers are openly giving interviews and advocating for the separate homeland for Sikhs. In one video, the protestor is heard saying “We don’t want to live with these people (Indians).”
In a different video shared by Punjab Kesari Haryana, when a news correspondent at the Shambhu border talked to a Nihang Sikh who was standing on a tractor about the their demands, he replied “Azad Punjab, Sanjha Punjab, Khalistan Punjab.”
The another shocking video shows the alleged Sikh farmers expressing their demands loudly and explicitly, stating, “We want a separate Khalistan and to join Pakistan.”
YouTube based news channel Satya Khabar shared the video where some Sikh men demanded the formation of Khalistan. One of them said, “We are standing at the Singhu border where you have put up barricades. Do one thing, close Haryana border permanently. We will open the border with Pakistan. You have separated us from India. Let us part ways.”
Further targeting the Modi government, he says, “Modi government does not like Punjab. If they do not like Punjab, then leave us. Let’s create a separate nation, Khalistan. We will join Pakistan.” He added, “We did not build walls; you did. You have separated us from India. Let’s create Khalistan.”
A video shared by prominent X user, Anshul Saxena, shows a journalist asking the farmer, “National media is alleging that Khalistanis are also involved in the farmer’s protest.” In response, the farmer affirmed, “Yes, we are Khalistanis; we seek Khalistan. It’s our right.”
Journalist: National media is alleging that Khalistanis are also involved in the farmers' protest.
— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) February 18, 2024
So called farmer: Yes, we are Khalistanis… We want Khalistan… It is our right. pic.twitter.com/pNrFW8RYMF
YouTube channel Daily Browse shared a video in which an elderly Sikh man can be heard saying, “New government has been formed in Pakistan, we will leave Modi permanently and join hands with Pakistan.”
Lastly, let’s know the role of Congress in the recent unrest
The another facet of this purported farmer protest is the role of the Indian National Congress Party. Since the beginning of the 2.0 protest, the Congress has been an ardent supporter and has expressed solidarity with a cause that fervently advocates for the nation’s division. This support of the Congress party is echoing since the past protest with a sole motive of creating anti-government sentiments against the central power.
During our research into Congress’s involvement, we stumbled upon revelations that might not be shocking for us. It appears that the Congress leader Guramneet Mangat has played a crucial role in orchestrating the faltering farmer protest.
To understand Mangat’s role, we need to look at the timeline of the protest and how the conspiracy to revive it began. On November 16 last year, Congress leader Deependra Hooda met Ramandeep Singh Mann, the key organizer of the farmers protest. Mann’s Facebook post indicated that they discussed “future plans”.
Soon, a rally was planned as a part of “Future planning”.
Subsequently, on December 10, a series of farmer rallies surrounding farmers were started by Hooda.
The next day, Mann met other organizers of the protest in Chandigarh. Through his Facebook post on the same day, he announced a march to Delhi in late January or February 2024. During his time in Chandigarh, Mann also met Congress media panellist Mangat.
Mangat is a sympathizer of terrorist Bhindranwale. This claim is supported by the fact that, during one of his rallies in August 2023, Mangat had openly quoted Bhindranwale.
Moreover, on 25 December and 2 January, Mann again declared a march to Delhi to force the central government to accept their demands. During this period, he met Pawan Khera and other Congress leaders.
On January 10, 2024, Mann, Mangat and other key organizers of the protest met in Chandigarh. It was around this time that the commotion surrounding the farmers cause began to resurface. In many of the pictures shared by Mann, Mangat can be seen with him. He was also part of the previous protests. His participation in previous protests and his meeting with organizers of the farmer protests, as a Congress leader and his staunch stand in support of terrorist Bhindranwale, underscores the Congress’s dubious role in this protest.
Amidst the suspicious role of Congress in the protests, a tweet by Rahul Gandhi has surfaced in which he is seen encouraging farmers to oust the central government from Delhi. This suspicious timeline and provocation by Congress to instigate protests points to the significant role of Congress in inflaming protests for its own political gain.
In conclusion, farmer protests have already manifested into a fight and desire for a separate nation “Khalistan” for the Sikh community. Radical elements have changed the entire narrative of the farmer protest. This protest has become a platform for the resurgence of the Khalistan movement. As the protest progresses, the real motive behind it is coming to the forefront.
