Ontario, Canada: Ahead of Narendra Modi’s visit to Canada in April, rights group “Sikhs For Justice” (SFJ) has launched a petition urging PM Harper to raise with his Indian counterpart the demands of Sikh nationalists who are advocating for an independent country.
March 10 petition urges the Canadian PM to ask Modi to recognize Sikh peoples’ right to self determination; and to hold a referendum in the Indian occupied Punjab to create independent Sikh country “Khalistan”.
The “Punjab Referendum Petition” which is supported by management committees of Gurudawaras across Canada will be submitted to the Prime Minister’s office on April 6.
Image used for representational purpose only
Indian Prime Minister is scheduled to set off on a week-long Europe-Canada tour next month to make Paris the first stop on April 10, followed by Bonn and finally Toronto where he will address a public meeting of NRIs.
Citing separatist referendums held in Quebec, the petition states that “while Canada, by holding referendum, has given right to people of Quebec to form an independent country, however India has always violently suppressed the demand for independence of Punjab and has subjected the Sikh population to “Genocide”. Over 100,000 Sikhs, including several Canadian citizens, have been extra-judicially killed by Indian government for exercising their right to advocate for liberation of Indian occupied Punjab”.
During his November 2012 visit to India, PM Harper stated that merely advocating for a Khalistan homeland in the Punjab is not a crime and violence and terrorism cannot be confused with the right of Canadians to hold and promote their political views.
“Since UN Charter provides for all peoples’ right to self determination, we are approaching PM Harper to impress upon his counterpart to cede to Sikhs’ demand for referendum in Punjab” stated attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor to SFJ. “Modi’s visit to Canada is an opportunity for Sikh nationalists to seek Canada ‘s support in opening a dialogue with India on the issue of referendum in Punjab to create Khalistan” added Pannun.
We want PM Harper to protect the freedom of expression of Sikhs nationalists in Canada who are advocating the Khalistan, stated Jatinder Singh Grewal, SFJ’s Director of International Policy. To advocate for independent Sikh country, SFJ is holding a “Referendum Conference” in Toronto on April 4 in which Conservative, Liberal and NDP leaders will be invited, added Grewal.
For the last 12 years, Canada had banned Modi’s entry on the basis of a provision in Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that that bars entry of suspected human rights abusers.