New Delhi, October 9 (Daily Kiran) : The Indian government has expressed strong disapproval of the proposed Khalistan referendum scheduled to take place in Canada. The Ministry of External Affairs reiterated its condemnation of all anti-India activities during a press briefing on Friday in New Delhi.
Responding to questions about the Khalistani event, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “We firmly denounce all activities that are against India.” This statement follows reports that the banned extremist organization Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) plans to conduct the so-called Khalistan referendum on October 18 in Alberta, Canada.
A report published in August highlighted a video featuring Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the founder of SFJ, announcing the establishment of a Khalistan Army and a Sikh Homeland Security force. The footage, which showed Sikh youth undergoing training with semi-automatic rifles, raised alarm over potential implications for the Sikh community.
According to a report by Khalsa Vox, Pannun released a video urging expatriate Sikhs to participate in the Khalistan referendum in Indianapolis, Indiana. He also proposed the formation of a Sikh Homeland Security force or Khalistan Army.
The report emphasized that these actions are not merely political debates but deliberate provocations targeting youth grappling with issues of migration, identity, and financial pressures. It noted a troubling trend where a small segment of Sikh youth in the U.S. and Canada is gravitating towards substance abuse, illegal firearms, and gang culture, adversely affecting both their community and host cities.
Furthermore, the report indicated that while Pannun’s messages may not resonate with every troubled youth, they create a narrative that glorifies dissent and attributes failures to India. It pointed out that when an already vulnerable youth hears that the true struggle is against the Indian state, the transition from online rhetoric to access to real weapons becomes dangerously close.
Canadian intelligence agencies have previously identified Khalistani extremism as a national security concern. The report suggested that the pattern of power displays following incendiary videos is no coincidence.
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