The correct answer is: A. separate.
An autonomous state is a state that has a high degree of self-government, but is still part of a larger country. In the case of Punjab, the demand for an autonomous state is based on the belief that the Punjabi people have a distinct culture and identity that is not adequately represented by the Indian government. The insurgency of terrorism in Punjab is a result of the frustration of the Punjabi people with the Indian government’s refusal to grant them autonomy.
The other options are incorrect because they do not accurately describe the demand for an autonomous state. Option B, independent, is incorrect because an independent state is a state that is not
part of any larger country. Option C, secluded, is incorrect because a secluded state is a state that is isolated from the rest of the world. Option D, self-governed, is incorrect because a self-governed state is a state that has a high degree of self-government, but is still part of a larger country.