India steps up vigil as Khalistan & Pakistan sponsored protest intensifies in UK & Canada

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New Delhi: India is concerned over the recent attempts by the extremists and Khalistani elements to influence the decision-making process and polity in Canada and UK on the farmer protest issue including the “Kisan rally” planned by pro-Khalistani group in London on December 10.

London police were seen in full force giving protection to Indian High Commission as demonstrators gathered on Sunday in support of Indian farmers protesting against farm laws. The protestors raised anti-India and pro-farmer slogans.

The government, it has been learnt, is keeping a close watch on these alleged ISI-sponsored elements trying to influence lawmakers and Ministers in the UK as well as in Canada.

The rally, planned for December 10, is being organised by Khalistani secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and the Indian High Commission in London has raised the matter with the local authorities. SFJ’s last rally also had seen participation from Pak-origin Brits.

ET has reliably learnt that a significant number of 36 UK MPs who had expressed their “concern” against farmer protests have a substantial number of Pak-origin voters in their constituency. This has influenced the decision of these British MPs even as the Boris Johsnson government has maintained a distance from the protests.

Last week a group of 36 cross-party parliamentarians wrote to UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab asking him to make representations with his Indian counterpart, S Jaishankar, about the impact on British Punjabis affected by the demonstrations by farmers.

The letter, issued on Friday, has been drafted by British Sikh Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and signed by other Indian-origin MPs including Labour’s Virendra Sharma, Seema Malhotra and Valerie Vaz as well as former Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn. ET has learnt that these UK MPs are being influenced by Khalistani groups besides Pak-origin Brits in their respective constituencies.

Dhesi, Labour MP from Slough, whose father once led the largest Gurdwara in UK, has been seen in the company of Sikh extremists. Dhesi had once remarked that the UK gives the right to expression to every citizen and they have every right to express their opinion when asked about the SFJ referendum.

Preet Kaur Gill, Labour MP from Birmingham Edgbaston and chair of the All Party Parliamentary Party for British Sikhs has also been under scanner for her alleged links with Sikh extremists.

Raab’s visit to India in near future to prepare for Boris Johsnson’s proposed visit for the next year January 26 Republic Day parade might see two sides discussing the issue of Sikh extremism among other issues.

Earlier this year the British government had rejected the extremist group Sikhs for Justice Forum (SFJ) Referendum 2020 which seeks separation of Punjab from rest of India, saying that it considers Punjab as part of India.

A British High Commission spokesperson in response to a question on the SFJ-led referendum had then said, “This is a matter for the government and people of India, not foreign countries or overseas organisations. While we support the right of anyone to voice their opinion, the UK government is not involved in anyway with this unofficial and non-binding referendum,” he said, adding, “We consider the Indian state of Punjab to be a part of India.”

Interestingly, the Trudeau government had then rejected referendum demand. When asked about the so-called referendum being organised by SFJ, the Canadian foreign ministry had then remarked, “Government of Canada will not recognise the referendum.”

But the Indian mission in Canada has now asked for additional security as Khalistani and Pakistani elements have joined the protests near the high commission and Indian consulates in the country. India’s perception has been that Canada is doing little to stop those supporting the Khalistan cause. Current Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan was in fact branded a ‘Khalistani sympathiser’ by Punjab CM Amarinder Singh.

Jagmeet Singh, who heads the second-largest opposition party — the New Democratic Party (NDP) — in Canada is sympathetic to both Khalistan cause as well as pro-Pak Kashmiris.

Pakistan’s Nazir Ahmed (recently retired from British House of Lords due to allegations of Sexual Misconduct) and Chaudhary Perveiz Iqbal Losar, both founders of the EU – Pak Friendship Federation Europe (EUPAKFF), are allegedly behind the mobilisation of Pak-origin Brits in various constituencies of UK.

Iqbal Losar, Chair of the EUPAKFF and the Kashmir Peace Forum, has managed to organise protests and demonstrations in Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden and Italy over the years, well-placed sources told ET. UPAKFF and the ISI footprints are growing in the UK and Italy, and in more cities across Europe.

USA too is not immune from attempts to instigate anti-India sentiments, sources claimed, adding that ISI has been behind several protests in the past against Indian mission in Washington by luring some members of the Sikh community. However, sections of the Sikh community are opposing the hardliners.

Taking on the hardliners Sukhi Chahal Chairman, Punjab Foundation, tweeted on Saturday, “Shameless Pro-Khalistani , US-based secessionist organization called ‘Sikhs for Justice’ of Fake ‘Referendum2020’ thugs trying to hijack & exploit the California Sangat Sponsored peaceful #FarmerProtest #Tractor2Twitter car rally in front of Consulate General of India, San Francisco, California on Dec 5th. Hope the #kisanandolan unions issues a press release strongly condemning these Fake Khalistani’s Anti-Sikhi cheap publicity act to connect #FarmersProtest with their #Khalistani Dukandari.”



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