Khalistan - Is It Really That Attractive An Option?

[harjsingh2009]

I have always been a Khalistan sceptic, who beleives that the Sikh faith and people will be better served as part of India. We have spread to all corners of the globe and are a prosperous, well educated community with deep roots in countries in Europe, North America and Asia.

Punjab is already a basketcase with poor government, communal tensions, drug abuse and inequality for women.

Do we really think these issues would be solved with Khalistan?

Who would govern Khalistan? Sikh priests or would we have a democracy? Or would we have a mix like Iran?

What would our relationship be with Pakistan? or with India?

Which country is going to invest in Khalistan - what resources would it have apart from farmland?

What would happen to the thousands of Biharis? would they be forced out? would other minorities be forced out too?

Isn't it the case that Khalistan would be a disaster... just like Pakistan?

I only put this out here as I am interested in people's view on this hypothetical matter.

[BhForce]

I think we'd be well served first of all by not calling each other agents and traitors, LOL.

The example of Pakistan is a good example that we need to be careful of.

There's the landlock issue (no sea access). Besides export and import problems, communications and Internet access become difficult too.

Then the issue of natural resources (oil, iron, coal, water).

Then the issue of Hazur/Patna Sahib.

On the other hand, you have the example of Dubai, a country which has taken charge of its future and has been prospering. It has a majority population of outsiders, but it controls their political participation. It also has a moderately strict version of Islam, with leeway for non-Muslims.

The model of Europe is also one to consider. There are many countries that couldn't survive on their own, but they act as a unit. You can go from one European country to another with just a passport and open borders. Many people want the same model for Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Burma, Bangladesh, etc.

[agiaan andhhaeraa]

Khalistan would be attractive if we had the right leaders to control the country.

E.g. Chardi Kala mahapurkhs like sant ranjit singh ji dadrian wale as jathedar of akal takht and sppc then maybe some one like ss mann (or some one like his thinking) as chief minister where the government would answer to the 5 jathdars of the thakats at akal takht and accountabe to the khalsa panth - through sarbat khalsa.

Imagine if that fool sarna ever became head of sgpc (his life dream), he would make the ragi darshan jathedar and the panth would be in a much worse position than now lol.

[Guest s.s.]

i think the best option for the future of sikh ppl would be a vatican style state, where punjab is like a country within a country, meaning it has federal authority on day to day issues but remains part of the bigger nation, kinda like what the states in america are like, except the vatican in rome has its own rules, based on the christian religion, so maybe if the Akal takht took control of punjab they cud sort out the drug problems and farming issues on their own accord not to mention the issue with river waters. now im not for staying in india but i do recognize that if we completely broke off from them and had khalistan, a lot of ppl would suffer economically and wud b cut off from a lot of trade and essentially become poorer than punjab is already kinda like what happened to bangladesh but perhaps worse.

or we cud be like what scotland is to the u.k. it has its own flag its own identity and slight changes in the law, as well as their own recognized culture and parliament etc

[Mehtab Singh]

If all of you can stay united on just this one online forum for 3 days at a stretch, without ANY argument/fighting, no one can stop us from getting Khalistan.

Who is up for the challenge?

[mcjalebi]

Khalistan shouldn't be run a as religious state.......it should be a democracy..like and any other free country..US, UK, AUSSIE, EUROPE countries.....as punjab is also the homeland for hindus, jains, christians and other faiths.........it should be the punjab like maharaja ranjit singhs punjab where his kingdom was based on the core principals of sikhi that is freedom and equlaity for all people....now that would be something special!.....the akhal takt or spgc should have no authority what so ever in running a country full stop! I would support a khalistan if it was like that..not if it was purely a religious state...these institutuion dont do jack $h't as it is for punjab.

The akhal takth and spgc have their own agendas which would not be good for a country and that are not in line with the real sikhi....like going to court to define what a sikh is...why would you do that and other things...

NO OFFENCE TO ANYONE!

[BhForce]

mcjalebi, while you state that the Akal Takhat and SGPC aren't playing a good role at the current time, in this topic we are merely discussing ideals on a hypothetical basis. So, in a possible future where the SGPC isn't dominated by a single person (Badal), and the Radha Swamis, Nirankaris, drinkers, etc. aren't eligible to vote in SGPC elections, and the SGPC doesn't have complete power over Akal Takhat, the Takhat could possibly actually play a positive role.

Another alternative might be vatican status for the walled city of Amritsar. Note: Amritsar always used to have vatican status until it was totally taken over. The same management who ran Harmimander Sahib ran the city.

[m16]

a purely religious state would fail. in any case it wont happen without another armed struggle and you me and sikh youth aint up for that. those who harp on about education of masses without a mass armed struggle as a way of creating a new country live on another planet.

[Guest HSM]

Khalistan shouldn't be run a as religious state.......it should be a democracy..like and any other free country..US, UK, AUSSIE, EUROPE countries.....as punjab is also the homeland for hindus, jains, christians and other faiths.........it should be the punjab like maharaja ranjit singhs punjab where his kingdom was based on the core principals of sikhi that is freedom and equlaity for all people....now that would be something special!

Although I agree 100% with this, could you imagine if a Hindu/Jain/Muslim was elected President/Prime Minister of Khalistan what the communal uproar would be?? Sikhs can't manage politics within the Punjab state, they would have a long way to go in running A TRULY democratic country.

[Guest Guest]

i think khalistan would be develop country.punjab already richest state in india.we feed most of india.thn why cant punjab survive as a country.we can sell our grain to buy oil etc. and there is big market for our food market...and million of punjabi live in other countries.we can invest in our village...we dont need lot of factories anyways ...bcuz u can c most of ppl working thea are behari and hindu...not much sikh...we can give the work permit to indian to work in khalistan like dubai...