Kuljit Bains

The Sikh population in India is around 1.9 per cent. In Canada it is 1.4 per cent. That is a bit of trivia that may actually help to put in perspective the significance of politics over the community that seems to overshadow the Trudeau visit to India. In both countries, the Sikh community is vibrant and productive. Accordingly, the community’s issues have drawn the attention of the respective governments equally. The only difference is on how the two governments approach those issues.

To reduce the myriad of issues to the most essential, the dispute is over the said demand for Khalistan, a separate homeland for Sikhs. For the Indian Establishment it is the suspicion that there is a resurgence of Khalistan activism in Canada, while for Canada the concern is the way some of its Sikh citizens, if not the entire community, are looked upon with suspicion by India, including the Punjab Government. The Canadian Government’s view is that raising a demand in itself is legitimate, as long as it does not call for violent means. Most among the Indian leadership believe even mention of the ‘K’ word is cause for alarm.

It needs to be understood that Canada is right now building a new politics based on hitherto unseen levels of liberalism. And the Sikh issue is only a small part of that. The country has opened itself to the world for immigration, based largely on economic or humanitarian parameters. That, by default, but not without realisation, opens it to a host of new ethno-political issues. Apparently, that is a risk the Canadians have considered worth taking. Of course, vote politics plays a significant role in this — and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau can well be accused of that — but then that is precisely what democracy is.

Over the past year, certain ‘developments’ have been flagged by Indian security agencies — Canadian gurdwaras banning the entry of Indian officials; Trudeau attending ‘Khalsa Parade’; increased mention of Khalistan among Sikh gatherings in Canada; even the targeted killings in Punjab. But what needs to be seen is the number of people actually involved in such activities, and the response they evoke among the masses, both in India and Canada. That support, anyone who has inputs from both countries will tell you, is close to nothing, at least for Khalistan.

On their part, India, and Punjab, would do well to come out of the historical view of Sikh militancy, out of the Bhindranwale shadow, so to say. Militancy cannot be started by a few people being killed, or a few incendiary speeches. The police can well take care of that. There have to be graver underlying causes. And that is what Punjab should be more concerned about. Make sure separatists do not find a fertile ground in the state.

The most potent seed for communal trouble is suspicion, a lack of trust. And that is best overcome by talking. Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has painted himself into a corner vis-à-vis the Canadians, and perhaps that has triggered similar egos on the other side too. National and state interests cannot be held ransom to personal issues. Both Canada and India, especially Punjab, stand to gain significantly if they were to open themselves to each other. And the dividend for Punjab would be far more on a social plane than economic.

India has to realise there are Sikhs in Canada who have some real grievances, or even reasons for bitterness. As things stand, it may not be feasible to address many of those, but it can surely be ensured rancour is not carried into the future. People have the right to bemoan their pain, and even condemn those they hold responsible. The Canadian Government, on its part, has the duty to ensure no support to any illegal, especially violent, means is allowed on its land to the Khalistan movement, which is indeed happening currently even if on the margins.

Both sides have to communicate their concerns, and do the best to address each other’s fears. The current reticence may cause to be lost a historical opportunity to not only address the Punjab-Canada mistrust but also some of the historical Sikh suspicions. A warm handshake would be enough to make a beginning.