A Sikh separatist leader , Amritpal Singh, is running in India’s general election from a high-security prison in Assam, 3,000 km (1,865 miles) away from his Khadoor Sahib constituency in Punjab. Authorities jailed Sikh separatist Singh under a stringent security law for leading an armed protest at a police station last year, but his campaign is gaining considerable support, as indicated by the presence of his posters in the area.
Singh’s potential victory could lend legitimacy to his cause and raise concerns in New Delhi about a possible resurgence of Sikh militancy, which caused significant unrest and loss of life in the 1970s and 1980s. His father, Tarsem Singh, speaking from a Sikh temple adorned with portraits of those killed during the militancy, stated that the election results on June 1 would be a significant statement against those tarnishing their community and Punjab.
Sikhs, although forming the majority in Punjab, represent only 2% of India’s population of 1.4 billion. The government largely quelled the movement for an independent Sikh homeland, which began in the 1970s, by the early 1990s through severe crackdowns. Recently, Sikh separatism has drawn international attention with Canada and the United States accusing India of involvement in assassination plots against Sikhs abroad, allegations that India denies. In a 2023 interview, Singh reaffirmed his pursuit of a separate homeland for Sikhs and the people of Punjab, where Sikhism originated over 500 years ago.