Unaware of 2020 Referendum campaign, says US state dept Pannun seeking Pak help to divide Punjab is shameful, says GK

WASHINGTON : The US State Department on Tuesday said it was not yet aware of campaigns organised by Us-based pro-khalistan Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), adding that such calls come under freedom of speech.

“I am not aware of it. That’s- I mean, I’m just not aware of it today. I haven’t seen these reports. We have freedom of speech in the United States, we have freedom of association, and these are bedrock principles of American society,” said Robert Palladino, deputy spokesperson of the state department.

The SFJ is a Us-based hardliner group, which recently sought Pakistan’s support for its controversial social media campaign ‘Referendum 2020’ to separate Sikh state.

Having failed to garner support in Punjab, the group now plans a ‘Referendum 2020’ poll in major cities of the US, Europe, Australia and other countries.

When asked that if the state department was aware of such campaigns carried out on the US soil and is taking any measures to curb such activities, Palladino said: “We have freedom of speech in this country that’s protected by our first amendment, and that is a bedrock of American society and the American Constitution, and I, unfortunately, don’t have anything on this specific case.” CHANDIGARH : Former Delhi Sikh Gurdwara management committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK has branded as ‘shameful’ the demand of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal adviser of the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), that Pakistan army should help liberate Punjab on the Indian side. “It is a ploy to get Sikhs killed,” GK added.

SFJ has also planned a referendum in 2020 for building support for Khalistan as a separate state. Referring to Bangladesh that was separated from Pakistan with the intervention of the Indian army in 1971, Pannun had recently asked Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan to take revenge for Pakistan’s failure by dividing Punjab on the Indian side.

Questioning Pannun, GK said Khalistan would include Punjab on the Indian side or on Pakistani side also. “Does he (Pannun) wants to make Sikhs living in Punjab refugees as it happened in Bangladesh,” he asked.

Terming Pannun as pro-pakistan, GK who is also national spokesperson of the SAD, that

Will Khalistan include Punjab on Pakistani side also? Does he (Pannun) want to make Sikhs in Punjab refugees as it happened in Bangladesh? MANJIT SINGH GK, SAD leader

the demand by Pannun was a big jolt for Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh but in the past, the Congress party has been using anti-national elements against Akali leaders. “The murderous attack on me in the US is a proof of that,” said GK, adding that in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, a Congress MLA had used foul language against him.