Canada won’t recognise SFJ’s ‘Referendum 2020’
TORONTO : The Justin Trudeau government will not recognise the results of the ‘Referendum 2020’ being organised by the proKhalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). A statement sent to Hindustan Times made this position explicit for the first time.
Responding to queries from Hindustan Times about Canadian government’s stand on the referendum, aimed at carving out a separate Sikh state from India and scheduled for November this year, a spokesperson of the country’s foreign ministry stated in an email response: “Canada respects the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of India, and the Government of Canada will not recognise the referendum.”
The spokesperson also said that the bilateral relationship between Canada and India “is a priority for the Government of Canada.”
The Indian government had last year banned the pro-Khalistan group for its anti-national activities. The SFJ pushed for ‘Sikh Referendum 2020’ as part of its separatist agenda.
Indian officials did not want to comment on this development on record, though one described it as “significant” that this was put in writing and a change from the earlier stance that the referendum was protected by freedom of speech and expression rights in Canada.
An official also pointed out that a recent message in this respect from Ottawa, stating its opposition to the referendum, was also communicated to New Delhi, via the High Commission in Canada.
India’s high commissioner in Ottawa Ajay Bisaria also refused to address this particular matter, but said, “We continue to engage closely with Canadian partners, including security agencies on a range of bilateral security issues. Canada has been requested to check anti-India activities and to proscribe individuals and entities declared illegal in India.”
Following the return of Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister in October, New Delhi made it clear in official interactions that the issue of support for Khalistan in Canada had hindered relations between the two nations and expected more from the Canadian side. India, an official said, has noticed a perceptible difference in the attitude with which Canada has approached this contentious matter in recent months, a development described as “positive”.
Coordination between security and intelligence agencies has also improved, with a delegation of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) holding discussions with counterparts in the National Investigative Agency (NIA) late last year.
In January this year, the SFJ had written to Trudeau seeking his support for the non-binding referendum.