India expresses displeasure over Khalistan referendum to Canada
- In Reports
- 12:27 PM, Jul 19, 2024
- Myind Staff
India has officially communicated its objections to Canada regarding the scheduled Khalistan Referendum by the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) on July 28. The referendum, set to take place in Calgary's Municipal Complex Atrium and Plaza, has raised concerns due to its public venue and the potential for separatist activities on Canadian soil.
India’s High Commission in Ottawa has relayed these concerns to Global Affairs Canada, expressing concern over the use of a municipal facility for the event. Despite these objections, signs advertising the upcoming referendum have appeared in various parts of Calgary, though many have been defaced with spray paint branding them as "Illegal Sign”. SFJ’s general counsel, Gurpatwant Pannun, confirmed the vandalism, stating that posters and banners continue to be targeted.
The controversial posters include images of Talwinder Singh Parmar, linked to the 1985 Air India bombing that claimed 329 lives, and Hardeep Singh Nijjar, SFJ's principal organiser in British Columbia, who was killed in Surrey on June 18 last year. Nijjar, labeled a terrorist by India but never charged in Canada, was central to a diplomatic rift following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's statement alleging the potential involvement of Indian agents in his murder.
This referendum venue follows a pattern of using government facilities, despite past cancellations. The Tamanawis Secondary School in Surrey cancelled a scheduled referendum last September due to a rental agreement violation. The event was subsequently moved to the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara. Previous referendums have also taken place at municipal properties, including the Gore Meadows Community Centre in Brampton.
Additionally, SFJ has initiated a 24-hour "picketing" of India’s consulate in Vancouver, citing a Washington Post report alleging consulate involvement in Nijjar’s killing. While Canadian investigators have arrested four Indian nationals in connection with the case, no direct link to India has been established. The investigation into this angle is ongoing, though India has dismissed the allegations as "absurd" and "motivated."
The situation continues to strain India-Canada relations, with India maintaining a firm stance against the promotion of separatist activities under the guise of referendums on Canadian territory.
Image source: Getty Images
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