Pakistan: Why Sindhudesh demand has sparked violence in Karachi
The region is an area near the Indus River. It went to Pakistan following the Partition in 1947. The name "Sindhudesh" was taken from the Hindu mythology Mahabharata, in which it is the name of modern Sindh, the third-largest Pakistani province.
"Not just in Sindh, but throughout India, Hindus consider the Indus River sacred," - L K Advani had said log back.
A large group of Sindhis, under the banner Jiye Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSSM), raised slogans of 'Azadi' (freedom) and 'Pakistan Murdabad'.
They called for the liberation of Sindh, amplifying a longstanding sentiment of Sindhi nationalist parties.
Tensions flared in Pakistan's Karachi after protests demanding a separate Sindhudesh spiralled into violence, leading to stone pelting, vandalism and an intense clash with police.
The violence started after protesters hit the streets on Sindhi Culture Day, demanding a separate Sindhudesh. The protesters called for the liberation of Sindh, amplifying a longstanding sentiment of Sindhi nationalist parties.
The Sindh province, the area near the Indus River, went to Pakistan following the Partition in 1947. As per the Mahabharata, Sindhudesh was the ancient name for modern Sindh, the third-largest Pakistani province.
On Sunday, tensions escalated sharply after authorities diverted the rally route, angering thousands of protesters. The situation deteriorated as sections of the crowd started throwing stones at the security personnel and engaged in vandalism. The police resorted to tear gas shelling to disperse the crowd.
Local reports said at least 45 people were arrested in connection with the violence.
According to 'Dawn' newspaper, five police personnel were injured in the violence. The government directed the police to identify and arrest those involved in damaging property and vandalising police vehicles.
For long, the Sindhi outfits have claimed sustained political repression and human rights violations in the province. Earlier this year, the JSSM, led by exiled chairperson Shafi Burfat, urged the United Nations to intervene and recognise Sindhudesh as an independent nation, according to a report.
The JSSM even appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to back its demand, citing historical and cultural ties between Sindh and India.
In its statement, the outfit accused Pakistan's security forces of "serious human rights abuses" in Sindh, including enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings of activists and journalists. It also claimed that the anti-terrorism law was being misused to target its Sindhudesh movement.
WHY SINDHUDESH IS IN THE NEWS
The demand for Sindhudesh got a fresh wind amid renewed political chatter surrounding Sindh.
Last week, a Pakistani news channel aired a discussion in which a journalist and an expert claimed that MQM (Muttahida Qaumi Movement) chief Altaf Hussain once told former Sindh home minister Zulfiqar Mirza that after the passage of the 18th Amendment, "the Sindhudesh card is now in our hands".
In India, the issue drew attention after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh exuded confidence that the Sindh region would return to India one day.
It is said the Sindhi community was inspired by the Bengali language movement and emphasised Sindh's distinct ethnic, linguistic, and historical identity tied to the Indus Valley Civilisation.
The Bhutto family is Sindhi.
After the partition, people who used to reside in that region, Sindhis, came to India. Singh said that Sindhi Hindus, especially from the generation of leaders like LK Advani, have never accepted the separation of the Sindh region from India.
"I'd also like to mention that Lal Krishna Advani wrote in one of his books that Sindhi Hindus, especially those of his generation, still haven't accepted the separation of Sindh from India," the Indian defence minister said.
"Not just in Sindh, but throughout India, Hindus consider the Indus River sacred. Many Muslims in Sindh also believed that the water of the Indus was no less sacred than the Aab-e-Zamzam of Mecca. This is Advani ji's quote," he added.
Speaking at the Sindhi Samaj Sammelan event in New Delhi last month, Rajnath said many Sindhi Hindus of his generation "never fully accepted" the 1947 decision that led to Sindh becoming part of Pakistan.
He asserted that Sindh has always been culturally linked to India. "Today, Sindh may not be a part of India, but civilisationally, Sindh will always be a part of India. As far as land is concerned, borders can change. Who knows, tomorrow Sindh may return to India again," Rajnath said.
In fact, the reference to River Sindh in the national anthem symbolises this connection.
However, within the Sindh province, there is not much of a political movement advocating for a merger with India. What the outfits want is autonomy within Pakistan or formation of an independent Sindhudesh.
In the colonial era, Sindh existed as a separate administrative region under British India before being annexed. It became part of Pakistan following the Partition.
The first demand for a separate Sindhudesh started in 1967 under the leadership of GM Syed, one of the first supporters of Partition, and Pir Ali Mohammed Rashdi. It gained momentum after the 1971 liberation of Bangladesh.
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