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Chohan to continue advocating Khalistan

Shyam Bhatia
India Abroad Correspondent in London

A leading Sikh separatist living in exile in Britain says he wants to return to India and settle down in his village in Punjab's Hoshiarpur district.

Self-styled 'Khalistan president' Jagjit Singh Chohan, who turned 74 recently, told India Abroad in an exclusive interview, "Seventy-four is a good age, that's why I want to go to India, to my home in the Punjab."

He says he will continue his 'peaceful advocacy' of an independent Khalistan, but added that his formation in 1984 of a so-called government-in-exile was a purely symbolic gesture.

Chohan, a qualified physician who has lived in Britain since 1981, disclosed that a petition moved by his wife had prompted the Punjab and Haryana high court to order New Delhi to grant him the relevant travel documents.

"My home is in India, my family are there," he stressed. "I didn't come here to the UK to settle down. I had come for a holiday on 15 May 1980. But then my passport was revoked and no reason was given.

"They have never given a reason for revoking my passport. I was left stranded here without money or anything."

Asked if he had acted as a cat's paw for Pakistan, Chohan replied, "We can categorically state we have never received any help from any country, not Pakistan nor others."

He admitted to having addressed pro-Khalistan rallies during his years in exile, but claimed that he had always acted within the law. "Addressing a demonstration is not a crime here," Chohan said. "Anywhere in the world freedom of expression is a universal right."

Asked how he could reconcile his support for Khalistan with being an Indian citizen, Chohan responded, "The Scottish National Party members want independence, but they are part of the United Kingdom and they are always advocating their philosophy, they have never tried to hide it from anybody. They are law-abiding citizens.

"Canadians in Quebec are always fighting for independence and they are very important people."

Chohan said he remains a peaceful advocate of an independent Khalistan "because I think that is in the best interests of India, best interests of south Asia, best interests of the people of India.

"Then comes the second stage, the United States of South Asia. You see, the matter does not stop there, because then you form a confederation of independent states, where there should be no borders, like the EEC. We should follow the EEC model.

"Every country, all the independent countries, should get together as a confederation like Europe, take the model of Europe. The states should be independent, then they should become part of the confederation with common trade, common defence, common communications as Europe is doing. We have the European model.

"If in 1947 Messrs Gandhi and Nehru had formed the United States of India, like the USA model, there would have been no problem in India at all, neither the Kashmir problem nor the Assam problem nor any other problem."

Chohan said he did not fear harassment from the authorities if he was allowed to return to his village, Tanda. "I am a true Sikh and I fear nobody but God," he declared. "Neither have I committed any crime, nor has any case been registered against me either here or in India.

"I have never advocated violence, I have condemned violence. It has been appreciated by all good people."

"No one can take responsibility for extremists," he said. "We believe in a country based on love, hard work, prosperity, peace and in the name of God, that's what Khalistan is."

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