India had reacted to the first so-called Khalistan referendum held in Brampton on September 19
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India-Canada diplomatic ties will be tested after the Sikhs for Justice said that they would hold a second referendum on Khalistan in Toronto on November 6, reported Tribune News Service.
India had reacted to the first so-called Khalistan referendum held in Brampton on September 19.
While the separatists had said that since the referendum was a peaceful process, they would continue to hold it at various locations, India had said it was illegal. November was chosen for the referendum because it was in the month of November that the anti-Sikh riots had taken place in India.
Canada continues to say it does not recognise the referendum to express support for a separate Sikh nation-state. But India points out that the previous cycle of violence and bloodletting in Punjab also arose from similar provocations.
Three days later, after Ottawa’s response, the MEA had issued an advisory that asked Indians to remain vigilant in Canada due to a spike in hate crimes, racism and separatist activity
In one of its sharpest comments on separatist activity in Canada directed against India, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) found it “deeply objectionable” that a politically motivated exercise by extremist elements was allowed to take place in a friendly country like Canada.
If the November 6 referendum does take place, a sharper response from the MEA is most likely since after the first referendum it had said that “the Government of India will continue to press the Government of Canada for action in this matter”.
Three days later, after Ottawa’s response, the MEA had issued an advisory that asked Indians to remain vigilant in Canada due to a spike in hate crimes, racism and separatist activity. Canadians found the advisory bizarre since hate crimes have had the slowest rate of increase in recent days. And, then Canada retaliated with an advisory asking Canadian visitors to avoid Punjab, Gujarat and Rajasthan due to the fear of unexploded bombs and landmines.
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