Justin Trudeau govt in Canada snubs SFJ's 'Punjab 2020 Referendum'
Ottawa: The Canadian government led by Prime Minister Justin Tredeau will not recognise the results of the Punjab 2020 Referendum being organised by the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), media reports said.
Responding to queries from Hindustan Times about the Canadian Government’s stand on the referendum scheduled for November this year, aimed at carving out a separate state of Punjab from India, 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 recognize the referendum.”
The spokesperson also said that the bilateral relationship between Canada and India “is a priority for the Government of Canada.”
India’s High Commissioner in Ottawa Ajay Bisaria also refused to address this particular matter, but told Hindustan Times, “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.”
Reacting on the developments, DGP, Punjab (Retd.), Shashi Kant told ANI, "I don't call it a referendum because referendum only happens within the geographical limits of any country. Sitting here, we can't do a referendum on the sovereignty of the USA, United Kingdom or any other country. That is not correct".
He added, "Again, the point is the statement by the Canadian government that they will not recognise the `Referendum 2020' by a US-based organisation. This is a big victory for the Government of India's foreign policy which shows that it's paying dividends. The other countries are very much respecting India's sovereignty".
SFJ was formed with Avtar Singh Pannun as its president and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun as its legal advisor.
The SFJ pushes for Sikh Referendum 2020 as part of its separatist agenda.
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