Won’t ban proKhalistan event in London: UK

‘REFERENDUM 2020’ Says citizens have right to gather, but assures won’t tolerate hatemongering

LONDON: The United Kingdom has rejected India’s demand to ban a pro-Khalistan event on August 12, saying that people in the country have the right to gather and demonstrate views within the law. A US-based group called Sikhs for Justice is preparing for the event at Trafalgar Square, when a ‘London Declaration’ is supposed to be issued, calling for a referendum on independence of Punjab.

LONDON: The United Kingdom has rejected India’s demand to ban a pro-Khalistan event on August 12, saying that people in the country have the right to gather and demonstrate views within the law.

A US-based group called Sikhs for Justice is preparing for the event at Trafalgar Square, when a ‘London Declaration’ is supposed to be issued, calling for a referendum on independence of Punjab.

The event has revived New Delhi’s long-standing demand that London clamp down on such elements.

Official sources said the Union ministry of external affairs and the Indian high commission sent verbal notes to the foreign office, requesting the Theresa May government to deny permission for the event.

Indian high commissioner YK Sinha also met UK foreign office minister Mark Field on this issue.

However, amid some unease in Indian quarters over the event, a UK government spokesperson told Hindustan Times: “In the UK, people have the right to gather together and to demonstrate their views, provided that they do so within the law.”

“However, we will not tolerate any group spreading hate or deliberately raising community fears and tensions by bringing disorder and violence to our towns and cities and the police have comprehensive powers to deal with such activities,” the spokesperson said.

Sources said a similar response had been sent to Indian authorities.

INDIAN COMMUNITY SLAMS EVENT

As the group, SFJ, put up billboards and claimed support of some Kashmiri groups, members of the Indian community took to social media to oppose it. There are also indications of a counter-event on the day to oppose the event.

“On August 12, we will unveil the case for Sikhs’ right to self determination as guaranteed in the UN Charter and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” stated attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor to SFJ.

Jasdev Rai of the Sikh Human Rights group questioned the validity of a referendum sought by the group, and said: “This appears to be a sketch better suited to a Punjabi comic drama… A hocus-pocus referendum exercise is undermining the authority and status of Sri Akal Takht Sahib.”

“It will be best for the organisers to rethink and sit with people who have been part of the Sikh struggle since 1984 and take advantage of the unconditional talks offered by the Narendra Modi government,” Rai, who has been in talks with New Delhi since Modi’s visit to London in November 2015, said.

Rami Ranger, co-chair of the Conservative Friends of India, said: “These handful of Sikhs are an embarrassment to Sikhs at large and also an impediment to progress in Punjab…Imagine, if people of Scotland make demand for a referendum for their independence in India.”

Jasbir Singh Parmar of the Bedfordshire Asian Business Association said majority of people in Punjab would not want a referendum.