Every year on 9 October, the Sikh community remembers the sacrifices of Shaheed Sukhdev Singh Sukha and Shaheed Harjinder Singh Jinda, whose lives became symbols of resistance, courage, and unyielding faith in justice. Their martyrdom reminds us of a turbulent chapter in India’s history—one that continues to shape our collective conscience.
Historical Context
The 1980s were a period of deep turmoil for Punjab and the Sikh community. The Indian government’s Operation Blue Star (June 1984), carried out under General A.S. Vaidya’s command, resulted in a massive military assault on Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple)—the holiest shrine of the Sikhs.
This operation caused immense emotional and spiritual devastation, with innocent lives lost and sacred spaces desecrated. Instead of addressing legitimate political grievances through dialogue, the government chose force—leaving a permanent scar on the Sikh psyche.
A Peaceful Movement for Rights
Today, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) continues to uphold the ideals of peaceful struggle, political self-determination, and human rights. The party’s demand for Khalistan is rooted in democratic principles—the right of a people to decide their own future through peaceful and legal means, not through violence or hate.
Our movement seeks:
- Justice for 1984 and the victims of state-sponsored violence.
- Recognition of Sikh identity and autonomy, which has been repeatedly suppressed.
- Freedom of expression and political representation without persecution.
The Indian government, instead of fostering reconciliation, has often resorted to censorship, political targeting, and historical revisionism. Sikh voices demanding justice are still labeled as threats rather than citizens exercising democratic rights.
Even after four decades, accountability for the 1984 atrocities remains elusive, and those responsible for mass killings have enjoyed impunity.
The government’s continued centralization of power, its intolerance toward dissent, and its attempts to silence minority narratives expose the fragility of its democracy.
A Message of Peace and Perseverance
Our path is not of vengeance, but of truth, remembrance, and peaceful assertion.
We seek not to divide but to restore justice, dignity, and equality—values enshrined in the very spirit of Sikhism.
Khalistan, for us, symbolizes a moral and political awakening where human rights, equality, and religious freedom flourish without fear.
As we mark Shaheedi Diwas, let us reaffirm our commitment to non-violence, unity, and democratic resistance.
We remember the martyrs not to glorify conflict, but to remind the world that oppression can never erase the quest for freedom.
