The Council of Khalistan is a non‐profit political organization based in Washington, D.C. , United States. It is seeking to create a homeland for Sikhs by establishing a sovereign nation‐state called Khalistan . The Council of Khalistan is one of the key fighting forces of the Khalistan movement. It played important role during the Insurgency in Punjab .
5-550: The organization was created On 12 April 1980, when separatist leader Jagjit Singh Chohan officially announced the formation of the Council of Khalistan at Anandpur Sahib and declared himself to be the president. Balbir Singh Sindhu as its Secretary-General. Chohan presented himself as the president of the Republic of Khalistan, set up a cabinet, and issued Khalistani passports, stamps, and currency. On 13 June 1984, Chohan announced
10-590: A government in exile . The Cabinet of the Council of Khalistan was elected at a large meeting of several thousand Sikhs on 23 June 1984 in Southall, west London. And the meeting severely criticized Akali Dal leader Giani Amolak Singh and his associates who had led the Punjab autonomy campaign from 1981; all of them were forced to retire. The Akali Dal was swept aside by the new organization, the Council of Khalistan. Dr. Jagjit Singh Chohan, long ostracized for his idea of
15-524: A major diplomatic row erupted. It was the first of many fissures to run through Indo-British relations, which were thought to be progressively worsening due to the Sikh factor. On 24 January 1993, It was briefly admitted in the UNPO , as a representative organization of Khalistan, but was suspended in just a few months. The president of the Council of Khalistan is the leader and head of the organization. The title
20-543: A separate Sikh homeland, was given support and a free hand to lead it. The council announced its other four members: Gurmej Singh of the Babbar Khalsa, Sewa Singh of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Karamjit Singh representing the youth, and Harmander Singh from the reorganized Akali Dal. A business- man offered an office in central London, appropriately named Khalistan House, where several volunteers undertook
25-566: The campaign amid meetings and enquiries. The council's appeal for funds was given a generous response, and within two months its funds reached £100,000. The community's turmoil was under close watch by the Indian authorities. As the BBC broadcast a short statement from Dr. Chohan, regarding the consequences of sacrilege committed by the Indian prime minister through attacking the Golden Temple,
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