A preacherA person who gives religious speeches. on the run chased by 80,000 police officers. Angry crowds armed with swords storming a police station. And a mission to start a new separatistSomeone who is a member of a particular group within society, often ethnic or religious, who believes this group should be independent from the rest of society. state for SikhsFollowers of Sikhism, an Indian religion and philosophy. .

This may sound like the plot of a thriller. It is not. These are the real life events unfolding in the northwestern state of PunjabA state in northern India, bordering Pakistan. , India.

Amritpal Singh, the Sikh leader calling for the creation of an autonomousHaving the freedom to control itself or its life. Sikh state known as Khalistan, is being pursued by authorities throughout India. Singh heads a group called Waris Punjab De, which translates to "heirs of Punjab", and has been evading police since 18 March. The police accuse him of attempted murder, obstruction of law enforcement and creating "disharmony" in society.

To locate him, the government has dispatched thousands of police and enacted restrictions on internet and mobile messaging services, resulting in 30 million people being disconnected.

Today, Sikhs are a majority group in Punjab, but a minority in India as a whole, making up just 2% of the 1.3 billion population. The Sikh faith has a rich and complex history, with elements of both war and peace woven into its background. 

The religion was founded in the 15th Century by Guru Nanak, who preached a message of love, unity and social justice. In the centuries following, many gurus and followers took up arms to defend their communities against oppressive rulers and invading forces.

The demand for Khalistan first emerged in the 1970s among members of the Sikh community who felt that the Indian government was discriminating against them and suppressing their religious and political rights.

This insurgency has been criticised for its use of violence, including the assassinationThe murder of an important person, such as a politician, royal or business leader. of Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984.¹ But for many Sikhs, the idea of Khalistan represents a dream of self-determination that has yet to be fully realised.

When India gained independence it took great strides to be secularA word used to describe something that is not connected with the religious or spiritual sphere.. Authorities ensured that India's flag and anthem did not favour any religion over another. Some say the call now for an ethnic homeland for Sikhs is a blow to this idea of inclusivity. Others argue that the idea of secularism may already be long gone: since 2014, India has been led by the HinduA follower of Hinduism, the third-largest religion in the world. Roughly 95% of Hindus live in India. nationalist party BJPThe Bharatiya Janata Party (Indian People's Party) is the ruling political party of India, led by Narendra Modi. It follows a right-wing Hindu nationalist ideology. .

Yes: Sikhs, like any other community, have the right to self-determination. It is understandable that Sikhs, who have a distinct identity and culture, may want a homeland where they can practise their religion and way of life freely.

No: Creating a separate homeland for Sikhs could lead to further division and fragmentationBreaking up into pieces. of society. It could also lead to conflicts with other communities who may oppose the creation of a separate Sikh state.

Or... Instead of focusing on the creation of a separate state, efforts could be made to promote and protect the rights and interests of Sikhs within India. This could involve measures such as greater representation in politics and addressing discrimination.