Khalistan Movement a Liability, Not a Cause, for Most Sikhs, Says Report

The Khalistan movement is increasingly viewed as a liability rather than a cause by the majority of Sikhs in India and abroad, according to a report that warns separatist extremism is damaging the community’s public image and diverting attention from more pressing concerns.

The report, published by Khalsa Vox, argues that the promotion of Khalistani extremism in Western countries risks isolating Sikhs and fuelling suspicion towards the wider community. It identifies integration, youth radicalisation, and drug and gang networks as among the issues that require greater attention, while noting that some findings have linked separatist financing to criminal networks.

The report also revisits the movement’s history, citing the Air India bombing and years of militancy and bloodshed in Punjab as examples of its devastating human cost.

It traces the origins of a recent documentary, Finding Khalistan, to a violent incident at a consular camp held at Sabha Mandir in Brampton, Canada, where pro-Khalistan radicals allegedly attacked devotees with sticks and flagpoles two years ago. Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman subsequently undertook a two-year international investigation after taking issue with how Canadian broadcaster CBC framed the incident, the report said.

The resulting documentary examines the movement’s evolution from the violence following Partition and the insurgency of the 1980s to its present-day presence in Western countries.

The report argues that violent separatist activism conflicts with Sikh religious teachings, which emphasise humanity, equality and the rejection of religious hostility. It also criticises attacks on places of worship, the glorification of militants and separatist referendums organised in Canadian community centres.

Citing former British Columbia premier Ujjal Dosanjh, the report claims that fewer than five per cent of Canadian Sikhs support the Khalistan movement. It also says the movement has little electoral backing in Punjab, although it provides no polling data in the supplied account to substantiate these assessments.

According to the report, the prominence of a vocal separatist minority risks associating the broader Sikh identity with extremism. It warns that ordinary Sikhs, including workers, entrepreneurs, soldiers and professionals, may face reputational consequences despite having no connection to separatist activity.