Kangana Ranaut starrer political bio-drama, Emergency, is under heavy fire by the Sikh community due to its portrayal of Sikhs martyred in June, 1984, as anti-nationalist and separatist. The movie portrays the events and circumstances leading up to the declaration of nation-wide emergency by the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. However, certain elements from the movie are being deemed to be promoting anti-Sikh sentiments and actively defiling the character of those “martyred” during Operation Bluestar.  

Controversy around Sikh’s character assassination in the movie 

The trailer showcased brief glimpses depicting the radical exhibitions of the separatist Khalistani sympathizers, who notoriously stopping public transport to round up and execute unarmed Hindu civilians. Also seen in the trailer were the interactions between Indira Gandhi’s son, Sanjay Gandhi and radical Sikh militant, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. The interactions were allegedly a political move by Sanjay to overthrow the Akali Dal government in Punjab. 

Several Sikh communities are calling for a boycott of the film for allegedly portraying them as anti-nationalist separatists and terrorists. SGPC and the Akal Takht are demanding a boycott of the film due to the portrayal of character assassination of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale, who is considered a ‘Qaumi Shaheed’, one who was martyred for his ‘qaum’ (community), by the Akal Takht.  

Bhindranwale’s rise to power and instigation of Operation Bluestar

Communal violence in Punjab was at its zenith in the late 70s. Punjabi Hindus and even Sikhs against the Khalistani movement were being mercilessly executed across the state. Sikh militants were calling for a separate autonomous nation for Sikhs, Khalistan (Land of the Pure).  Faced by the potential security threat posed by the establishment of another religion-centered autonomous state and the increasing communal tensions. The government decided that siege on the temple to flush out the militants was the only option. 

According to reports, the government feared the establishment of Khalistan to be imminent thanks to Bhindranwale’s influence. The people were already rallied against the ruling Congress party thanks to Bhindranwale’s rousing speeches against Indira Gandhi. It capitalized on communal differences by calling her ‘Brahmin woman’ and ‘Pandit’s daughter’. According to an India Today report, Bhindranwale was receiving political support from Indira Gandhi’s son Sanjay Gandhi and President Zail Singh to overthrow the Akalis. However, they could not predict the extent of the damage that their backing would cause. 

Bhindranwale took centre stage following the violent clash between the Nirankaris and Gursikhs in 1978. Nirankaris was a sect which openly defied the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh’s holy scripture) and were as such shunned by the prevalent Sikh community. Several Gursikhs were killed. As per reports, their deaths were pinned on the ruling Akali Dal party, which reduced their popularity in the state. 

Reports also say that the uprising of the Khalistanis was also being perceived as a national threat. Accounts from the siege on Golden Temple reveal that the militants were in possession of several army commissioned weapons. These included rocket-propelled grenade launchers (RPGs), anti-tank equipment and tons of army commissioned ammunition. The Indian army was facing a well-armed militia driven by religious beliefs as opposed to a simple group of renegade extremists as was believed previously. Reports from the time also deem the operation a result of colossal intelligence failure. The weapons were believed to have been sourced from external governments which sneaked by India’s radar. 

All this culminated in the government carrying out the attack on June 4, 1984, to flush out the militants from their stronghold at the Golden Temple. They believed it to be the only option.  

An eye for an eye’ which left the nation blind 

Bhindranwale, his supporters, and thousands of innocent pilgrims were killed in the ensuing siege on the Gurudwara, along with over 700 army soldiers. His death was viewed through differing perspectives.

However, all Sikhs were enraged at the desecration of their holy shrine and vehemently rebelled against the government for their action. In retaliation for his death, two of Indira Gandhi’s Sikh bodyguards, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, fatally shot the Prime Minister on October 31, 1984. What ensued from this bold action left a blot in the nation’s history!  

Indira Gandhi’s death incited a wave of anger through the entire nation. Violent mobs broke out in riots against the entire Sikhs community. The aftermath of the entire ordeal resulted in one of the worst instances of communal violence in the nation’s history. Sikh families were being targeted by large mobs who were raiding homes and setting Sikhs on fire on the streets in front of their families.   

More than 3,000 Sikhs are reported to have been killed in the ensuing mob violence, with more than 50,000 displaced from their homes. According to reports,  the pogrom was also believed to have been perpetrated by the ruling Congress party at the time. More than 1200 cases were filed following the anti-Sikh riots, most against prominent politicians in the government. Congress leader Sajjan Kumar was sentenced to life imprisonment for conspiracy to commit the riots in 2018.  

A convict arrested for killing 2 Sikhs during the riots, Yashpal Singh. He was given the death penalty in 2018, the first capital punishment in the case. The conviction was welcomed by the survivors of the pogrom. 

Anger of the aftermath still seethes 

The aftermath of that fateful attack on the holiest shrines of Sikhs, Harminder Sahib (Golden Temple), still haunts the community on a spiritual level. Sentiments of “Never forget 1984” and “Remember 1984” still echo across Sikh spheres worldwide.

Accounts from the survivors of the riots demonstrate the traumatic shadow that the actions of a few radical individuals left on the community.  

The recent uprising of Khalistan movement and the election of “Bhindranwale 2.0”, Amritpal Singh, into the Lok Sabha are testament to the prevalence of the views. It led to the pogroms still within the community. 

The release of Kangana Ranaut’s ‘Emergency’ brings up an issue that is still contested in the community. Sikhs are justifiably upset at the events that transpired and still call for justice for all the souls lost and wronged. Watch the trailer for ‘Emergency’: