Amarinder Singh said that failure to openly oppose SFJ could create danger. (FILE)
Chandigarh:
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday welcomed Canada’s decision not to recognize the results of the “2020 referendum” organized by the pro-Khalistan “Sikhs for Justice (SFJ)” group.
The “2020 Referendum” is an SFJ campaign for a separate Sikh state.
He hoped other countries would also follow Canada’s lead and reject the “2020 secessionist referendum,” which the SFJ was promoting to divide India along communal lines.
Mr. Singh was reacting to a media report that quoted a spokesperson for Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs as saying: “Canada respects the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of India, and the Government of Canada does not will not recognize the referendum ”.
In a statement, the chief minister said the blunt stance taken by Justin Trudeau’s government on the issue is exemplary and that other countries and governments should also speak out openly against the SFJ.
The group has been banned by India as a terrorist organization and its founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has been declared a terrorist for actively promoting Pakistan-backed terrorist activities on Indian soil, he said.
Mr Singh said failure to openly oppose the separatist SFJ could set a dangerous precedent for any country as it could be seen as a case of covert support for an organization that freely propagates secessionist activities .
It was in the interest of world peace and security to reject forces determined to sow terror, he said, adding that Sikhs in Punjab had categorically rejected SFJ’s pro-Khalistan movement, which l The team was propagating at the request of the Pakistani ISI.
(This story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
