Page 12 - The Indian EYE 080423

OPINION AUGUST 04, 2023 | The Indian Eye 12

Dalla of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF)
are residing in Canada. As stated ear-
lier, while Canada’s actions during
the 1980s were guided by Cold War
dynamics, its present actions are influ-
enced purely by vote bank politics.
In the 2019 Canadian feder-
al election, Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau’s Liberal Party got 157 votes,
13 short of a majority. Hence, they
had to form a coalition government
with the ‘New Democratic Party’ led
by Jagmeet Singh Dhaliwal, a pro-
Khalistan leader. Jagmeet has, in the
past, made provocative statements in
favour of Khalistan and the human
rights situation in Kashmir. Out of
338 seats in the Canadian parliament,
Sikhs are elected on 18 seats which
speak of their political influence. The
Trudeau-led government is under po-
litical compulsion to not antagonize
their coalition partners.
Trudeau has been restrained in
confronting the Khalistan separatists’ A view of the Indian High Commission in London as Metropolitan Police increase security to keep Khalistan suppporters away (ANI)
anti-Indian activities. His soft ped-
dling on the Khalistan issue was quite creasing influence and subversive ac- witnessed several anti-India activities rejecting the so-called Khalistan ref-
evident when, in the aftermath of the tions of some pro-Khalistan elements. by Khalistani separatists as discussed erendum as a politically motivated
‘Kill India’ posters incident, he stated Unfortunately, the UK government in pervious sections. exercise by extremist elements, the
that “We have an extremely diverse appears to react slowly to the activi- All the above incidents reveal that government requested the Australian
country, and freedom of expression is ties of the Sikh separatists as was ev- the Khalistan sympathisers and an- authorities to “ensure the safety and
something that we have. But, we will ident from the March 2023 incident ti-India elements operate from these security of the members of the Indian
also make sure that we are pushing in which the Khalistan separatists Western countries with impunity. community and their properties.”
back against violence and extremism stormed the Indian High Commission The Indian Government is con- However, more needs to be done.
in all its forms.” in London and removed Indian Na- sistently taking up the matter with The Khalistanis are intensifying their
The Khalistan activities are not tional Flag. The Sikh separatists con- respective governments, highlighting activities abroad, and given that the
only limited to Canada. The influence tinued to protest with impunity days concerns about the adverse impact host countries seem to be looking the
of terrorist organisations like Sikh for after this incident. their inaction will have on bilateral re- other way, India needs to redouble its
Justice extends to the section of Sikhs Khalistan activities have also in- lationships. effort to prevent the reoccurrence of
residing predominantly in the UK, the tensified in the US, home to some of India strongly urged Canadian such incidents. It is essential for the
US and Australia. the designated terrorist organisations Government to take appropriate ac- Government to effectively convey to
Khalistan separatists’ foothold and individuals in India. During the tion against the anti-India ‘Khalistan the host countries that they cannot
has been prominent in the UK. The 1980s, Khalistan activities thrived un- Freedom Rally’, which was to be simultaneously have good relations
Sikh community got established in der successive US Administrations. conducted on 8 July 2023. In a me- with India while allowing anti-India
the UK almost immediately after In- As per reports, in 1971, The New dia interaction, the External Affairs separatist movements on their soil.
dia’s independence. It was in the UK York Times carried an advertisement Ministry termed the posters inciting At the same time, India will also have
that the first overseas Sikh organisa- of the declaration of a separate state violence against diplomats as “unac- to build a constructive and sustained
tion, ‘Sikh Home Rule Movement’, of Khalistan by Jagjit Singh Chauhan. ceptable” and condemned them in the engagement with the Sikh diaspora,
was formed under the leadership of This advertisement was reportedly strongest terms. dispel the misinformation propagat-
Sardar Charan Singh Panchi. The funded by Pakistan’s Inter-Services National Security Advisor Ajit ed by the Khalistani separatists and
movement was organised to take up Intelligence (ISI). The driving force Doval met his British counterpart on showcase the sense of contentment
the grievances of the Sikh community behind US behaviour was the Cold 7 July 2023 and took up the matter of prevailing in Punjab.
with the authorities in the UK. Later War dynamics and the US-Pakistan intensified activities by Khalistan sep-
on, the Sikh Home Rule Movement strategic alliance against the Soviet aratists. At the 5th India-UK Home Abhishek Verma is a Research Analyst
was taken over by separatist lead- Union in Afghanistan. Affairs Dialogue, the Indian Govern- in the Internal Security Centre at the
er and self-proclaimed President of Over 500,000 Sikhs reside in the ment reiterated their concern regard- Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence
Khalistan, Jagjit Singh Chauhan, who US, amounting to 0.2 per cent of the ing the Khalistan issue and the misuse Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), New
moved to the UK in 1970. total population. Although the Sikh of UK’s asylum status by the pro- Delhi
Presently, more than 520,000 population is not substantive numer- Khalistani elements to aid and abet
Sikhs reside in the UK, comprising ically, it does have a connection with terrorist activities in India. The secu- Views expressed are of the author and
do not necessarily reflect the views of
nearly 0.88 per cent of the total pop- the Sikh separatists of Canada as can rity breach at the Indian High Com- the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
ulation. They are the fourth largest be evidenced by the fact that within mission in London was also discussed. Government of India.
religious community in the UK. The four month, the Indian Consulate in The Indian Government has is-
Canadian Sikh separatists and organ- San Francisco witnessed two incidents sued similar statements to express its The full version of this article first ap-
isations like Sikhs for Justice have a of arson by the Khalistani separatists. displeasure about the arson incident peared in the Comments section of the
presence among the Sikhs in the UK, The so-called Khalistani flag was also at Indian consulate in San Francisco. website (www.idsa.in) of Manohar Par-
as well. Recently, a report released by installed inside the Consulate premis- India also firmly denounced the van- rikar Institute for Defense Studies and
the UK Government reflects the in- es. In recent years, Australia has also dalism of temples in Australia. While Analyses, New Delhi on July 26, 2023

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