Pro-Khalistani group to hold referendum despite oppn

A pro-Khalistani organisation is still going full steam ahead preparing for a referendum at Trafalgar Square in London on August 12 next to seek the “independence” of Punjab, notwithstanding India’s request to the Government of United Kingdom to deny it permission to hold the event.

The Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a pro-Khalistani organization based in the United States, is set to hold a referendum on August 12 to “liberate” Punjab, which, according to it, is “currently occupied by India”. The organization has plans to gather people from across the UK, US and Canada at Trafalgar Square in London to support its demand for “re-establishing” Punjab as a “nation-state” after its “liberation” from India.

India has already asked the UK Government to deny the SFJ permission to hold the event.

“The Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and the Indian High Commission in London have sent separate Note Verbales requesting the UK Government to deny permission for the event,” V K Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs, informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

India’s High Commissioner to the UK, Yash Sinha, had a meeting with Mark Field, Minister of State for Asia at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of British Government, on July 11. Sinha handed over to Field a demarche, asking the British Government to deny permission for this event, the Minister of State for External Affairs informed in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

Singh did not mention in his reply how the UK Government responded to the request from New Delhi.