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- Published: October 22, 2022 17:05
New Delhi: New Delhi: As the hoopla around so-called Khalistani referendum gathers steam in Canada, India has asked Justin Trudeau government to denounce & stop the November 6 event in Ontario by proscribed terrorist outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).
Taking strong stand against Khalistani propaganda stemming in the Canadian city, India has asked Trudeau govt to ensure that no govt property is used to spew hatred or violence against the Indian people.
Canada may cite freedom of speech as the reason for not blocking referendum but the reality is that strong voices against Khalistanis are coming to the fore now.
Many educated & well-informed Canadian residents are decrying the Khalistani activists for their falsified campaign and deliberate spreading of canard to mislead the Sikh youth.
Terry Milewski , a leading Canadian Broadcasting Corporation journalist has come out in open condemnation of Khalistani activists holding a referendum on November 6. He also sought to ‘expose’ the so-called Khalistanis by asking direct questions on their motives behind anti-India propaganda.
Ottawa based journalist took strong exception to recent truckers march in Brampton in support of Khalistani referendum and asked, “whether those putting Khalistan flag on the $50,000 vehicle will leave their expensive truck and a prosperous life in Canada for Punjab.”
In a searing takedown of Khalistani hardliners deliberately misleading youths, he said, “They are projecting themselves as tough guys. They are holding posters of Harjinder Pahra who killed 38 Hindus near Lalru in Mohali district and another 32 a week later.”
Urging an intervention by Canadian government, he said that if we don’t call out their violent means, we are in for a major problem.
In fact, not just him but many feel that the Khalistani referendum slated for Nov 6 in Ontario province is an open invitation to separatist elements to join ranks & bolster their anti-India campaign.
Meanwhile, there are many prominent Sikh youths in Canada who hold highly contrasting views and are in awe of Modi government for amending mistakes of the past.
Notably, many Sikhs were blacklisted & prohibited from entering India but Modi government did away with that ‘stay list’ and facilitated their revisit/return to homeland. Maninder Gill, Surrey-based broadcaster told a radio channel, “I couldn’t visit India for 19 years. I could not attend the last rites of my close relatives. It’s after PM Modi came to power that the blacklist was scrapped & I could visit India.”
He further informed that when Dr Manmohan Singh visited Canada, he was also requested to do away with the black list but nothing happened. He said that he had personally requested for this in his meeting with former Indian PM but it was denied straightaway.
“It is only in the Modi administration that our voices are being heard,” he said.
Gill, a leading voice of the Sikh community in Canada, also urged the community to raise their voice against extremists & radicals and also against their vicious attempts to poison the minds of youngsters.
“They cannot stay united in Canada but are talking about unity in so-called Khalistan, 14,000 km away,” he said.
Further condemning the separatist voices, he said that Sikhs failed to stay united in Gurudwara elections as well as in Vancouver municipal elections.
“All Sikh candidates stood against each other & some White person won the elections,” he said.
