Khalistan referendum held in Canada, Sikhs arrived in large numbers
Khalistan referendum held in Canada, Sikhs arrived in large numbers
TORONTO: Sikhs turned out in large numbers for the Khalistan referendum event in Canada, on the same day Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed his counterpart Justin Trudeau at the G20 leaders’ summit over New Delhi’s strong concerns about the ongoing anti-India activities in the North American nation. Make aware.
The vote on support for Khalistan, a separate homeland for Sikhs in India, was held on Sunday at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in the British Columbian province of Surrey, where its former president Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead in June. The banned pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which organized the referendum, said more than 100,000 people attended the event, the Global News Channel reported.
Jatinder Grewal, director of Sikhs for Justice, told the Vancouver-based news channel, “The poll tells us and the broader community that the issue of Khalistan is not an issue for a fringe group of people, but… it is a deep-rooted issue.” Which touches the hearts and minds of many Sikhs.
The vote was to take place at a school in Surrey, but was canceled after concerned residents brought images of weapons on posters to the attention of school officials. In a strongly worded condemnation, Modi on Saturday told Trudeau that extremist elements were promoting separatism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises and threatening the community and their places of worship in Canada. Have been.
A Foreign Ministry statement quoted Prime Minister Modi as saying, “The nexus of such forces with organized crime, drug syndicates and human trafficking should also be a matter of concern for Canada. Both countries should cooperate to deal with such threats.” It is necessary.” Speaking to the media after meeting his Indian counterpart, Trudeau said the actions of some people do not represent the entire community or Canada.
“Canada will always protect freedom of expression, freedom of conscience and freedom of peaceful protest, and that is extremely important to us,” he said in response to a question on Khalistani extremism. At the same time, we are always present to stop violence and push back hatred.
Just days before Trudeau left for India for the September 9-10 summit, the Shri Mata Bhameshwari Durga Temple in Surrey was vandalized with anti-India and pro-Khalistan slogans. Despite a strong protest being lodged in New Delhi, an anti-India campaign continues in Canada with pro-Khalistani graffiti and posters targeting Indian diplomats and temples across the country.
Following the incidents of Khalistani elements displaying “Kill India” posters outside the Indian Consulate in Toronto, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had said that Canada is clearly allowing these protests motivated by vote bank politics.
