Jagjit Singh Chauhan

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Jagjit Singh Chauhan (died April 4, 2007) was the original founder of the Khalistan movement that sought to create an independent Sikh state.

Chauhan, a Sikh, grew up in Tanda in Punjab's Hoshiarpur district, about 180 km from Chandigarh. A medical practitioner, Dr. Chauhan was first elected to the Punjab Assembly from the Tanda as a candidate of the Republican Party of India in 1967. He became Deputy Speaker when the Akali Dal-led coalition Government took office in Punjab. When Mr. Lachhman Singh Gill became Chief Minister, Chauhan was made Finance Minister. In 1969, he lost the Assembly election.

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[edit] In Exile

Khalistan "currency"
Khalistan "currency"

In 1971 he moved to the United Kingdom. In 1971, he went to Nankana Sahib in Pakistan to attempt to set-up a rebel Sikh government. He them visited USA at the invitation of some supporters. On Oct 13, 1971, he placed an advertisement in the New York Times proclaiming an Independent Sikh state. In 1977, he returned to India.

He migrated again to Britain in 1979. In London, Chauhan created an organization "Khalistan National Council" and ran its operation from a building termed "Khalistan House". He remained in contact with Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Chauhan also maintained contacts among various groups in Canada, the USA and Germany. He visited Pakistan as a guest of leaders like Chaudhuri Zahoor Elahi. Chauhan declared himself president of the "Republic of Khalistan", named a Cabinet, and issued Khalistan "passports", "postage stamps" and "Khalistan dollars". It is reported that with the assistance of a wealthy Californian supporter, a peach magnate, he opened an Ecuadorean bank account to support his operation.

[edit] Harimandir Sahib, Bhindranwale and Indira Gandhi's murder

On 19 July 1982, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who was accused of the murders of Lala Jagat Narain and Gurbachana Nirankari, moved into the sanctuary of the Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple) complex. According to reports he fortified the complex and began to stockpile weapons. In June 1983, Bhindranwale was asked: "Sant Ji, if Jagjit Singh Chauhan attacks Hindostan with assistance from England, America, and Canada, whom will you help?". Bhindranwale hedged and did not indicate his support.

To flush out Bhindranwale and his supporters from the Harimandir Sahib, a government operation was undertaken on June 5-6, 1984 in which Bhindranwale was killed.

On June 12,1984 in London Chauhan was interviewed for his reaction in an BBC interview. The interviewer asked: "Do you actually want to see the downfall of Mrs. Gandhi's Government?" Chauhan answered: "..within a few days you will have the news that Mrs. Gandhi and her family has been beheaded. That is what the Sikhs will do..". After this interview, Thatcher government curtailed Chauhan's activities. The British government had also instructed him to confine his activities within the bounds of democracy and the laws of the land.

On June 13, 1984, Dr. Jagjit Singh Chauhan announced a government in exile. On 31 October 1984, Indira Gandhi was asssinated.

Chauhan visited Japan in November 1987.

His Indian passport was cancelled on April 24,1989 by the Indian High Commission after he visited India and hoisted the flag of Khalistan at a gurdwara at Anandpur Sahib. India raised a storm when he was allowed to enter USA using the canceled passport.

Vancouver fundamentalist Talwinder Singh Parmar and Surjan Singh Gill were at one time aligned with Chauhan.

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