What is the Crush India movement shown in Gadar 2?

Gadar 2's storyline begins with Pakistanis chanting anti-India slogans in what's called the "Crush India" movement.

The movie portrays Tara Singh (Sunny Deol) as imprisoned by the Pakistani administration due to his association with this movement. His son, Charanjeet Jeete Singh (Utkarsh Sharma), sets out to find him but ends up captured by the Pakistani army.

Origins of the Crush India movement

The Crush India movement occurred in September 1971 in West Pakistan (modern-day Pakistan). This movement arose after India declared support for Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s National Awami League in its fight against West Pakistan. By mid-1971, India was training 'Bengali guerrillas' to assist Mukti Bahini fighters seeking independence.

The movement was essentially a propaganda effort by Pakistani residents orchestrated by elements within the government. "Crush India" stickers appeared on vehicles in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Lahore, spreading to other parts of Pakistan.

Stickers saying "Hang the traitor," referencing Mujibur Rahman, were also seen on Pakistan's streets. Conservative media outlets circulated jihad-related materials to boost military recruitment. By November 1971, thousands in Lahore and across Pakistan were calling to "Crush India."

Why West Pakistan went to war with East Pakistan

In the 1970 National elections, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) won 88 of 144 seats. In East Pakistan, Mujibur Rehman’s National Awami League won 167 of 169 seats.

Even before the elections, Mujibur Rahman stated East Pakistan's desire for control over its foreign exchange and the potential to issue its own currency. East Pakistan sought autonomy over governance, leaving defense and foreign policy to the central government.

The West Pakistan government feared an 'Indian influence' if East Pakistan framed its constitution, as Bangladesh was closer to India. Bengali Muslims faced discrimination, often called 'Hindu-corrupted Bengalis.'

To suppress separatism, President Yahya Khan deployed the army. The brutality caused many to flee East Pakistan, leading to nearly 8 million refugees in India. This spurred Indian involvement in the Bangladesh Liberation War (1971).

The India-Pakistan war

Starting on December 3, 1971, the India-Pakistan war ended in just 13 days. On December 16, 1971, 90,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered to the Indian army, marking a significant defeat for West Pakistan.