Trudeau in India, Khalistani separatists hold 'referendum' in Canada
Trudeau was in India for the G20 Leaders' summit on Sunday, Khalistani secessionists held a so-called ‘Referendum’ in Surrey, British Columbia.
Designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the founder of the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), was present at the gathering of the Khalistani separatists held at the Guru Nanak Singh Gurudwara in Surrey, Vancouver.
In a provocative speech, Pannun used intimidating language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and other leaders. He claimed that the separatists were challenging the territorial integrity of India.
Prime Minister Modi had on Sunday raised “strong concerns” about the continuous “anti-India activities” by extremist elements in Canada in his pull-aside meeting with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau.
Prime Minister Modi stated that it was essential for the two countries to cooperate in dealing with such threats.
“The Prime Minister conveyed our strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada.
They are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.
It added, “The nexus of such forces with organized crime, drug syndicates and human trafficking should be a concern for Canada as well. It is essential for the two countries to cooperate in dealing with such threats”.
