Sunday, December 22, 2024

‘Australia is next’, says Sikh separatist leader

In response to Canada’s allegations, a spokesperson for Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed deep concern and conveyed these concerns to India

PRAVASISAMWAD.COM

Tensions between India and Canada have spilled over, causing concerns among two of Australia’s closest economic and diplomatic allies, according to reports from watoday.com.au. The Canadian Prime Minister has publicly asserted that Canadian intelligence has credible information suggesting that the Indian government may have had involvement in the assassination of Canadian-Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a prominent figure in the Khalistan separatist movement, which advocates for the establishment of an independent Sikh state in the northern Indian region of Punjab. He was tragically gunned down outside a cultural center in British Columbia on June 18.

In response to Canada’s allegations, a spokesperson for Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed deep concern and conveyed these concerns to India. The spokesperson emphasized the importance of the Indian diaspora as valued contributors to Australia’s multicultural society, where peaceful and safe expression of views is encouraged.

However, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a leader in the Khalistan movement, claimed that peaceful protests in Australia had been disrupted, quasi-referendums blocked, and demonstrators intimidated by Indian government supporters in the country. Pannun ominously warned, “Australia is the next target for Indian agents.”

When questioned about Pannun’s assertions, the Indian High Commission in Canberra offered no additional comments beyond the statement issued by New Delhi.

Pannun vehemently rejected the Indian government’s characterization of his group as violent extremists, emphasizing their commitment to peaceful, democratic advocacy. Meanwhile, the Australian government faces the challenge of managing the fallout from the alleged temple vandalism incident while upholding the rights of Sikhs to peacefully protest

In a related incident, in May, Blacktown City Council canceled a Khalistan event due to security concerns. Supporters of the Indian government had previously claimed that a Hindu temple in Rosehill had been vandalized with anti-Indian messages. They alleged that pro-Khalistan supporters were responsible for putting up “wanted” posters targeting Indian diplomats and defacing Khalistan freedom rally posters with “Kill India” messages.

Pannun, who has been designated a terrorist by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs, defended his stance, stating that he was labeled a threat because he openly challenged India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. He argued, “India is not a country. It is a union of states, and the people of Punjab, forcefully occupied by India, should have the right to vote.” He condemned Nijjar’s assassination as an act of terrorism.

Despite the threats against him, Pannun, who runs the Sikhs For Justice campaign from exile in the United States, asserted that he was not afraid of being assassinated. He expressed greater concern for the plight of Sikhs under successive Indian governments.

Pannun vehemently rejected the Indian government’s characterization of his group as violent extremists, emphasizing their commitment to peaceful, democratic advocacy. Meanwhile, the Australian government faces the challenge of managing the fallout from the alleged temple vandalism incident while upholding the rights of Sikhs to peacefully protest.

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Roma Ghosh
Roma Ghosh
Roma Ghosh has recently retired as Associate Professor for Media Studies from an international university. She was with the Times of India as a correspondent for many years. Her passion is cooking and she has been doing recipes and photo shoots for Women's Era for the last 15-odd years.

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