Ottawa, Canada (April 13): A group of Sikhs attended “Sikh Freedom Rally” on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival this afternoon at McDonald Cartier International Airport (Canada Reception Center Hanger 11) Ottawa.
The Sikhs are urging Canadian Prime Minister to question on Human Rights abuses and raise the issue of Sikhs’ right to self determination with his Indian counterpart.
Narendra Modi disappointed his supporters who were eagerly waiting for his arrival. As modi plane arrived, he stepped of the plane only to wave to those waiting and slipped in waiting limousine and took off.
It was noted that fearing the protest Narendra Modi whisked away.
Supported by management committees of Gurdwaras across Ontario, freedom rally resolved that “while Canada, by holding referenda gave right to the people of Quebec to form an independent country, Indian government, instead of holding referendum in Punjab, killed over 100,000 Sikhs, including several Canadian citizens” only to suppress the democratic demand of the people of Punjab.
Sikh journalist and President of Canadian East Chapter of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) Sukhminder Singh Hansra stated that “We are here to remind our Prime Minister that he has been elected to be the voice of his countrymen who have signed the “Punjab Referendum” petition in thousands”.
PM Harper should not betray the Canadian values by putting economic interests before human rights”, added Hansra.
Punjab Referendum Petition filed by “Sikhs For Justice” (SFJ), a human rights advocacy groups, urges Canadian Prime Minister to ask PM Modi to recognize Sikhs’ the Right to Self Determination and to hold a referendum in the “Indian Occupied Punjab”. The petition enjoys overwhelming support among 600,000 strong Sikh community of Canada.
“Canada is home to thousands of Sikhs who fled persecution by Indian government and today PM Harper has a unique opportunity to broker a deal between Sikh community and Indian government on the issue of referendum in Punjab”, stated Jatinder Singh Grewal Director International Policy, SFJ.