India condemns Connecticut citation on ‘Sikh independence’
INDIA’S Consulate General in New York has strongly condemned a citation issued by the General Assembly of the US state of Connecticut recognising an anniversary of the so-called ‘declaration of Sikh independence.’
The Consulate said it along with the Embassy of India in Washington will take up this issue appropriately with the concerned US lawmakers.
‘We condemn the so-called Citation of the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut in the USA regarding an illegal act. This is an attempt by some mischievous elements to use the name of the Assembly for their nefarious purposes,’ the Indian Consulate said.
‘These vested interests seek to divide communities and promote bigotry and hatred. Their agenda of violence has no place in democratic societies like the USA and India.’ it said.
In the ‘official citation’, the State of Connecticut General Assembly congratulates the pro-Khalistan organisation ‘World Sikh Parliament’ ‘in recognition of the 36th anniversary of the declaration of Sikh independence.’
Meanwhile, influential Indian-American groups have urged the Connecticut state assembly to rescind its official citation.
Scores of Indian-American groups and powerful community leaders have been writing letters to the members of the assembly and its leadership underlining that such a citation questions the territorial integrity of India and undermines a growing India-US relationship.
‘This citation will be detrimental to the interest of our Connecticut. Thus, we urge you to rescind this citation,’ Milan Cultural Association of Connecticut said, noting that this citation is a highly condemnable move by the Connecticut administration and is not at all acceptable.
‘This citation proves how oblivious it’s of the real issue. The state has waded into the unknown and unwanted territory without talking and consulting the larger Indian-American community in Connecticut,’ it said.
Federation of Indian Association (FIA), Tri-State (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) urged the members of the assembly to ‘mitigate this very sad and unfortunate action’ and take the needed steps to ‘promptly rectify this illegitimate act of supporting subversive activities.’
Ankur Vaidya, chairman of FIA, hoped that the facts will be checked, and that truth will prevail.