Jump to content

List of pro-Khalistan movement organisations

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Khalistani groups)

The Khalistan Movement is a separatist movement seeking to establish a homeland for Sikhs by establishing a sovereign Sikh state called Khalistan[i] in the Punjab region[a] of the Indian subcontinent. The proposed boundaries of Khalistan vary among different groups, but typically include the Sikh-majority Indian state of Punjab and potentially Punjabi-speaking areas of neighboring states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. While its roots trace back to the 1947 Partition of British India,[b] it gained significant momentum in the 1970s with the Anandpur Sahib Resolution, which initially sought greater regional autonomy. The movement escalated into a violent insurgency in the 1980s following Operation Blue Star and the 1984 Sikh massacre, events that deeply affected the Sikh psyche. Today, while active militancy in India has largely subsided, the movement sustained primarily by advocacy groups within the Sikh diaspora. Organizations like Sikhs for Justice continue to lobby for a sovereign state through non-binding Khalistan Referendum.[1]

Pro-Khalistan separatist organisations

[edit]
  1. Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De)
  2. All India Sikh Students Federation[2]
  3. Council of Khalistan
  4. Dal Khalsa
  5. Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)
  6. Sikh Federation (UK)[3]
  7. Sikhs for Justice
  8. Waris Punjab De
  9. World Sikh Organization
  10. Akali Dal
  11. All India Shiromani Akali Dal
  12. Anandpur Khalsa Fouj (AKF)[4][5][6]
  13. Australian Sikh Council
  14. Azad Khalistan
  15. Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara Committee
  16. Bhindranwale Militant Group
  17. California Sikh Youth Alliance
  18. Kesri Lehar[7]
  19. Khalistan Affairs Center
  20. Khalistan Armed Force
  21. Khalistan Caucus Foundation
  22. Khalistan Center
  23. Khalistan Guerrilla Force
  24. Khalistan Liberation Front[8]
  25. Khalistan Liberation Organisation
  26. Khalistan National Army
  27. Khalistan Security Force
  28. Khalsa Party
  29. Lashkar-e-Khalsa[9]
  30. Malwa Kesri Commando Force
  31. National Sikh Youth Federation (UK)
  32. Panch Pardhani Jatha[10]
  33. Panthic Committee[11]
  34. Panth Punjab
  35. Punjab Sovereignty Alliance[12]
  36. Pure Tigers
  37. Royal Army of Khalistan[13]
  38. Sher-e-Punjab Brigade[14]
  39. Shiromani Akali Dal, Amritsar (USA)[15]
  40. Sikh Assembly of America
  41. Sikh Federation International
  42. Sikh Federation of Canada[16]
  43. Sikh International Organization
  44. Sikh Youth Federation
  45. Sikh Youth Federation Bhindranwale[17]
  46. Sikh Youth of Punjab[18]
  47. Sikh Youth (UK)
  48. Tat Khalsa
  49. World Sikh Parliament[19]

Pro-Khalistan paramilitary organisations

[edit]
Sr. No. Name Founder + year Famous Actions
1. Babbar Khalsa[20] Bhai Talwinder Singh Parmar, Bhai Sukhdev Singh Babbar (1979) See: List of actions by Babbar Khalsa
2. Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal (1984) Major encounter at Rataul village.
3. Dashmesh Regiment Bhai Seetal Singh Matewal, (1990) Major encounter at Bolowali village.
4. International Sikh Youth Federation[20] Singh Sahib Jasbir Singh Rode, (23 September 1984) based in the United Kingdom
5. Khalistan Commando Force[20] Manbir Singh Chaheru, (1986) Assassination of Rtd Chief General of Indian army and an architect of Operation Blue Star Arun Vaidya, assassinations of leading culprits of 1984 Anti-Sikh riots Congress(I) Member of Parliament Lalit Maken, Arjan Dass and several other high-profile battles with Indian security forces.
6. Khalistan Liberation Army 1990s The Khalistan Liberation Army (KLA) is reputed to have been a wing of, or possibly a breakaway group from, the KLF.
7. Khalistan Liberation Force[20] Bhai Aroor Singh (1986) Killing of SSP Gobind Ram, SSP A.S Brar, SP K.R.S Gill, Lt. Col. Satnam Singh, Ramkat Jatola, SP RS Tiwara, DSP Tara Chand, Major General B.N Kumar, Treasurer Balwant Singh, Lala Bhagwan Das, MLA Sat Pal Parashar, and others
8. Khalistan Tiger Force Jagtar Singh Tara (1990s) Assassination of the former Chief Minister of Punjab Beant Singh in 1995.
9. Khalistan Zindabad Force[20] Bhai Ranjit Singh Neeta Bomb blasts on trains and buses in Jammu, killing of DSP Devinder Sharma.
10. Shaheed Khalsa Force 1997 SKF claimed credit for marketplace bombings in New Delhi in 1997.

Babbar Khalsa is listed as a terrorist organisation by the United Kingdom,[21] the EU,[22] Canada,[23] India, and the United States.

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ while the movement claims the "Punjab region," the focus is almost exclusively on Indian Punjab. Most modern proponents do not claim territory from the Punjab province of Pakistan, despite it being the historical seat of the Sikh Empire.
  2. ^ Before 1947, the seeds of the movement were sown during the twilight of British rule as the Lahore Resolution of 1940 made the creation of Pakistan look increasingly likely. Fearing that the Sikh community would be left as a permanent minority in either a Muslim-majority Pakistan or a Hindu-majority India, leaders like Master Tara Singh and the Shiromani Akali Dal began advocating for Azad Punjab or an independent Sikhistan. They argued that if India were to be divided on a religious basis, the Sikhs, as a third distinct community with a history of sovereign rule under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, should also have the right to a self-governed homeland to protect their unique cultural and religious Identity. However, the movement failed to establish Sikh homeland primarily due to the lack of a clear demographic majority in any single district and the tragic geographic bisection of the Sikh heartland by the Radcliffe Line. Ultimately, the Sikh leadership chose to join India after receiving assurances from Jawaharlal Nehru and the Congress Party that the community would enjoy an 'autonomous region' where they could 'feel the glow of freedom', a promise that remains a central point of contention in modern Sikh politics."
  1. ^ Punjabi: ਖ਼ਾਲਿਸਤਾਨ, lit. ''Land of the Khalsa''; It is also commonly known as Sikhistan from the 1940s–1970s

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Minahan, James (2002). Encyclopedia of the stateless nations. 4: S - Z. Westport, Conn. London: Greenwood Press. p. 2151. ISBN 978-0-313-32384-3. SIKHS: All-India Sikh Students Federation (AISSE); Babbar Khalsa International (BKI); Khalistan Liberation Army; Khalsa Dal; Sikh Youth Federation; Panthic Committee; Pure Tigers; Khalistan Liberation Front (KLF); Council of Khalistan; Eternal Party (Akali Dal); All-India Shiromani Akali Dal; Panthic Committee; Khalistan Commando Force (KCF); Bhindranwale Militant Group; Sikh International Organization (SIO); Shaheed Khalsa Force (SKF); Sikh Youth Federation (SYF); Bhinderanwala Tiger Force; Saheed Khalsa Force; Khalistan Liberation Tiger Force; Khalistan National Army (KNA); Saheed Khalsa Force; Azad Khalistan
  2. ^ Minahan, James (2002). Encyclopedia of the stateless nations. 4: S - Z. Westpsort, Conn. London: Greenwood Press. p. 2151. ISBN 978-0-313-32384-3. SIKHS: All-India Sikh Students Federation (AISSE); Babbar Khalsa International (BKI); Khalistan Liberation Army; Khalsa Dal; Sikh Youth Federation; Panthic Committee; Pure Tigers; Khalistan Liberation Front (KLF); Council of Khalistan; Eternal Party (Akali Dal); All-India Shiromani Akali Dal; Panthic Committee; Khalistan Commando Force (KCF); Bhindranwale Militant Group; Sikh International Organization (SIO); Shaheed Khalsa Force (SKF); Sikh Youth Federation (SYF); Bhinderanwala Tiger Force; Saheed Khalsa Force; Khalistan Liberation Tiger Force; Khalistan National Army (KNA); Saheed Khalsa Force; Azad Khalistan
  3. ^ "Sikhs played key role in India's fight for independence, says UK federation leader | Caliber.Az". caliber.az. 2026-01-20. Retrieved 2026-01-20.
  4. ^ "Built by Amritpal, This Punjab 'Firing Range' Trained People to Join His 'Anandpur Khalsa Fauj'". News18. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  5. ^ Kaushik, Krishn (March 21, 2023). "India hunts Sikh preacher who has revived calls for homeland". Reuters. Retrieved 18 April 2025. Top Punjab police officer Sukhchain Gill told Reuters that Singh had set up a militia called Anandpur Khalsa Fauj.
  6. ^ Goyal, Divya (March 29, 2023). "In Amritpal's 'private Fouj', weapons training for members, belt numbers; Khalistan insignia recovered from Amritpal's gunman, say police". Indian Express. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  7. ^ "Kesri Lehar UK & Kesri Lehar Scotland Press Releases | Newsroom | Press Office". kesrileharuk.pressat.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  8. ^ "Khalistan Liberation Front module busted, three arrested". India Today. 2020-06-28. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  9. ^ IANS (2022-08-04). "'Lashkar-e-Khalsa can carry out terror attacks in India', warns IB". Greater Kashmir. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  10. ^ "Four Panthic bodies to observe Sarbat Khalsa Remembrance Day on Jan 26 at Sri Akal Takht Sahib". Babushahi.com. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
  11. ^ "Pressure for declaration of Khalistan". India Today. 1986-05-31. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  12. ^ "NIA inspects Solan blast site, police probe claims by pro-Khalistan group". Hindustan Times. 2026-01-03. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
  13. ^ Manochahal, Baba Gurlachan Singh. "ROYAL ARMY OF KHALISTAN". rattibha.com. Head office: Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, Sri Amritsar. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  14. ^ "Punjab shocker: RSS activist shot dead in Ferozepur; pro-Khalistan outfit claims responsibility". The Times of India. 2025-11-17. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  15. ^ Sikh24, Admin (2015-08-26). "Akali Dal Amritsar (USA) Extends Support to Satnam Singh Parhar in New York". Sikh24.com. Retrieved 2025-05-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "'It puts everyone on edge': Sikh Federation of Canada spokesperson on Canada-India trade talks". CTV News. 2025-11-24. Retrieved 2026-01-20.
  17. ^ Sikh24, Admin (2018-03-30). "Sikh24.com". Sikh24.com. Retrieved 2025-05-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ "'Sikh Youth of Punjab' Advocates Release of Sikh Political Prisoners". The World Sikh News. 2023-11-14. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
  19. ^ Salamat, Sajid (2024-07-22). "World Sikh Parliament members expose India as a serial human rights violator". Daily Times. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  20. ^ a b c d e Fair 2005, p. 128.
  21. ^ Home Office - Proscribed terrorist groups in the UK Archived 2007-03-01 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ EU list of terrorist groups
  23. ^ Canadian listing of terrorist groups Archived 2006-11-19 at the Wayback Machine

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Fair, C. Christine (2005), "Diaspora Involvement in Insurgencies: Insights from the Khalistan and Tamil Eelam Movements", Nationalism and Ethnic Politics, 11: 125–156, doi:10.1080/13537110590927845, S2CID 145552863
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_pro-Khalistan_movement_organisations&oldid=1347879301"