Freedom of expression being misused in Canada by anti-India elements: MEA: The Hindu – Page 1,12
Why is it in news?
Freedom of expression is being “misused” by extremists in Canada to “legitimise terrorism”, said the Ministry of External Affairs.
UPSC SYLLABUS RELEVANCE for prelims and Mains
Prelims: Current events of national and international importance.
Mains: General Studies II – Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Important concepts
Khalistani separatism
Mains PYQ exercise:
Analyse the complexity and intensity of terrorism, its causes, linkages and obnoxious nexus. Also suggest measures required to be taken to eradicate the menace of terrorism. (Answer in 250 words) (2021)
Today’s mains practice question:
Discuss the bilateral relations between India and Canada. What are the challenges in these relations?
DETAILED EXPLANATION OF IMPORTANT CONCEPTS
Khalistani separatism:
- Separatism is a political ideology or movement advocating for the separation of a group or region from a larger political entity, often due to cultural, ethnic, or religious differences.
- Khalistani separatism was a movement for a separate Sikh state, Khalistan, in Punjab, India, which emerged in the 1970s and 1980s.
- The Khalistan movement is a Sikh nationalist movement that wants to create an independent state for Sikh people, via armed struggle or political, inside the current North-Western Republic of India, such a state existed in Punjab from 1709 to 1849.
- In the 1970s, Sikh separatist organizations began to develop, calling for more political and economic freedom for Sikhs.
- As a result, tensions increased as the Indian government cracked down on separatist organizations and detained their leaders.
- The Anandpur Sahib Resolution, passed in the 1970s by the Sikh political party Akali Dal, demanded greater autonomy for Punjab and its Sikh population.
- The 1980s saw an increase in violence as security forces brutally retaliated to Sikh militant strikes on government targets. Sikh terrorists attacked the government and the Hindu populace.
- This was supported by Inter-services intelligence of Pakistan and led by J S Bhindranwale (a prominent religious figure at that time)
- Operation Blue Star was started by the government to drive insurgents out of the Golden Temple compound.
- Anti-Sikh riots started after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was killed by her Sikh bodyguards.
- The Punjab Accord of 1985 sought to bring about peace and give Punjab and its Sikh population more autonomy, but Khalistan’s problem remained unresolved.
- Due to effective counter-insurgency operations and a split among terrorist factions, the insurgency waned in the 1990s.
- Sikh gurdwara administration committees were set up for prope administration of Gurudwaras.
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