Page 10 - Khalistan Issue

Snakes in backyard: Indian-origin MP in Canada slams Khalistani posters

An Indian-origin MP in Canada has slammed the provocative pro-Khalistani posters labelling some senior Indian diplomats as "killers" and warned that the "snakes in our backyard are raising their heads and hissing." Chandra Arya, a Liberal Party politician, who hails from Karnataka, also underlined that it was only a question of time when they would bite to kill, an apparent reference to the growing menace posed by Khalistan supporters in Canada. Tweeting a poster announcing the so-called 'Khalistan Freedom Rally' on July 8, Arya, who represents the Nepean constituency in Ontario province, said: "Khalistanis in Canada continue to reach (a) new low in abusing our Charter of Rights and Freedom by promoting violence and hate." "Emboldened by non-criticism from elected officials of a recent Brampton parade portraying and celebrating the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards, they are now openly calling for violence against India diplomats," Arya ...

India summons Canadian High Commissioner on poster by Khalistan supporters

Khalistan extremists are planning to take out a protest march to Indian embassies in Toronto and Vancouver on July 8

Canada assures safety of Indian diplomats after posters named officials

Canada has assured India of the safety of its diplomats following the circulation of Khalistani posters online which named Indian officials and termed the promotional material circulating ahead of a Khalistan rally "unacceptable". The statement by Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly came a day after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India has asked its partner countries such as Canada, the UK and the US not to give space to "extremist Khalistani ideology" as it is "not good" for relations. Stressing Canada's commitment to the safety of diplomats, Minister Joly highlighted the country's adherence to the Vienna Conventions. "Canada takes its obligations under the Vienna Conventions regarding the safety of diplomats very seriously," she said in the statement on her Twitter account on Tuesday. "Canada remains in close contact with Indian officials in light of some of the promotional material circulating online regarding a protest planned for July 8, which are unacceptable,

US condemns vandalism against Indian Consulate by Khalistan supporters

India's consulate in San Francisco came under an attack from Khalistan supporters who tried to set the diplomatic facility on fire in the second such act of violence within months, drawing strong condemnation from the US government which termed it a "criminal offence". A video by Khalistan supporters, dated July 2 posted on Twitter, showed the act of arson at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. The video, with the words violence begets violence emblazoned over it, also showed news articles related to the death of Canada-based Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, one of India's most-wanted terrorists who carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Canada last month. Responding to the incident, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller in a tweet on Monday said: The US strongly condemns the reported vandalism and attempted arson against the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on Saturday. Vandalism or violence ..

Extremist Khalistani ideology not good for India or partner countries: EAM

The "radical, extremist" Khalistani thinking is not good for India or its partner countries like the US, the UK, Canada and Australia, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a BJP outreach campaign, Jaishankar said the government will raise the issue of pro-Khalistan posters that were part of a rally held recently in Canada. "We have requested our partner countries like Canada, US, UK and Australia where sometimes Khalistani activities happen, not to give space to the Khalistanis. Because their (Khalistanis) radical, extremist thinking is neither good for us nor them nor our relations," minister said. "We will raise the issue of posters with those government. I think it would have already been done by now," he added. A photo of 1985 Air India airplane bombing accused Talwinder Parmar was seen in a pro-Khalistan rally in Canada, seeking to glorify him.

Canada seems to be driven by vote-bank politics: EAM on Khalistan issue

Canada's response to the Khalistani issue appeared to be constrained by its "vote bank compulsions" and India will have to respond if the activities impinge on its national security and integrity, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday. In an interactive session at an event, he also said that the Khalistani issue has impacted the ties between the two countries in many ways in the last few years. India has been asking Canada against giving space to pro-Khalistani separatists and extremists elements. "For us how Canada has dealt with the Khalistani issue has been a long-standing concern. Because very frankly, they seem to be driven by vote-bank politics," Jaishankar said. "Their responses have all been, to the best of my understanding, actually constrained by what they regard as vote bank compulsions," he said. The external affairs minister said it made it clear to Canada that if the activities there impinge on India's national security, it will respond. "We made

Canada-based pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar shot dead

India's one of the most wanted terrorists, who carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, was shot dead by two unknown men in the parking lot of Surrey Gurudwara Sahib, Brampton.

Pro-Khalistani leader Hardeep Nijjar shot dead in Canada's Surrey

Canada-based pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in the Punjabi-dominated Surrey city of British Columbia province

NIA to probe attacks by Khalistanis on Indian missions in US, Canada

The attackers used the wooden butts of Khalistan flags, which they had been waving earlier, to smash the glass doors and windows of the Consulate

Indian High Commission attack mastermind Avtar Khanda dies in UK hospital

Avtar Singh Khanda, a Punjab-origin Khalistani separatist and mastermind of the attack on the Indian High Commission in London, died in a hospital in the UK on Thursday due to blood cancer.

Khalistani supporters heckle Congress' Rahul Gandhi at an event in US

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was heckled by a group of Khalistani supporters who raised slogans against him and briefly interrupted his speech during an event here in the US state of California. Gandhi was speaking at the 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' event organised by Indian Overseas Congress USA in Santa Clara on Tuesday when some people from the audience started raising slogans against him and the Gandhi family in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. An unperturbed Gandhi smiled in response to sloganeering and said: "Welcome, welcome ... nafrat ke bazaar mein mohabbat ki dukan". The 52-year-old former Congress president then joined his supporters in the audience and responded with 'Bharat Jodo' slogans. "The interesting thing about us, about the Congress party is that we have affection towards everybody. If someone wants to come and say something regardless of what they are saying, we are happy to listen to them. "We are not going to get angry, we are not going to get aggressive.

NCERT drops Khalistan's topic from class 12 political science textbook

The NCERT has dropped references to the demand for a separate Sikh nation Khalistan from the class 12 political science textbook following objections from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), according to education ministry officials. The SGPC had last month alleged that the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) misrepresented historical details about Sikhs in its Class 12 political science textbook. The Sikh body's objection pertained to the mention of the Anandpur Sahib resolution in the book "Politics In India Since Independence". The dropped sentences are -- "the resolution was a plea for strengthening federalism but it could also be interpreted as a plea for a separate Sikh nation" and "the more extreme elements started advocating secession from India and the creation of 'Khalistan'". The statements have been rewritten as "the resolution was a plea for strengthening federalism". "Representation from SGPC was received regarding withdrawin

Khalistani terrorist Paramjit Singh Panjwar shot dead in Lahore: Report

Wanted Khalistani terrorist Paramjit Singh Panjwar was on Saturday morning shot dead by two unidentified gunmen in Lahore, the provincial capital of Pakistan's Punjab province, police said. Panjwar, 63, was heading the banned Khalistan Commando Force-Panjwar group and was involved in drug and weapons smuggling and other terror activities when he was designated as a terrorist by India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in July 2020. He was walking along with his guard at the park of SunFlower Housing Society, Nawab Town near Tokhar Niaz Baig in Lahore, where he was residing when two assailants opened fire on him and managed to flee on a motorcycle, a senior officer of Pakistan's Punjab Police told PTI. The victims were shifted to hospital where Panjwar was pronounced dead on arrival by doctors while the condition of his guard is stated to be critical. "The gunmen shot (Panjwar) Singh in his head," the officer said on condition of anonymity. Pakistan's intelligence agenc

Ahead of PM Modi's visit, yet another Hindu temple vandalised in Australia

Temple authorities also found a Khalistani flag hanging on the gate, and reported the matter to New South Wales police

I am in high spirits in jail, says Amritpal Singh in letter to lawyer

Radical preacher and Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh, who is lodged at the Dibrugarh Central Jail along with his associates following their arrest in Punjab, has said he is in 'chardi kala' (high spirits) in prison, according to his lawyer Bhagwant Singh Siyalka. Siyalka accompanied family members of arrested Waris Punjab De' activists, including Amritpal Singh, who arrived here earlier in the day and met them at the jail. The radical preacher handed over a letter written in Gurmukhi to Siyalka inside the prison, in which he said: With the blessing of the Almighty, I am in 'chardi kala' here. Referring to the cases registered against members of his outfit, Amritpal Singh accused the Punjab government of unleashing excesses and registering several fake cases against Sikhs. This whole matter is of Khalsa Panth' and I appeal to the Panth' that a panel of capable advocates be set up, which will pursue all these cases, he said in the letter. Siyalka, who is also an executive memb

Family members meet arrested Waris de Punjab activists in Assam's Dibrugarh

Ten family members of arrested Waris de Punjab' activists, including its chief Amritpal Singh, arrived here on Thursday and visited the Dibrugarh Central Jail to meet them, an official said. They made their way to the northeastern state after the Punjab and Haryana High Court allowed one family member of the arrested to meet them. An executive member of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and legal counsel Bhagwant Singh Siyalka, and another lawyer Simranjeet Singh also accompanied the family members. Singh later told reporters that the arrested persons have been booked under the National Security Act (NSA), with the same allegations against all of them. He said even the annexures attached to their cases are the same and this seems to be ''improbable''. "There is no criminal background of those arrested. It is definitely a conspiracy as there is no reason for them to be booked under the NSA. Amritpal was campaigning against drug abuse and was also engaged in preach

Khalistan a dangerous ideology, threat to national security: Report

In one of his statements, Amritpal Singh said that the Indian constitution was just a mode of perpetuating the slavery of the Sikhs

Amritpal Singh arrested, sent to Assam's Dibrugarh jail amid tight security

A special flight carrying radical preacher Amritpal Singh landed at Dibrugarh airport on Sunday from where he will taken to the Central Jail located in the Upper Assam town, officials said. Singh was flown in the special flight from Bathinda after his arrest by Punjab Police earlier in the day, they said. "His flight landed at 2:20 pm. After necessary formalities, he will be taken to Dibrugarh Central Jail in a security convoy," a senior official told PTI. Dibrugarh Traffic Police has been alerted for road clearance from the airport to the prison, a 15-km stretch. Singh was arrested by the Punjab Police around 6.45 am from Rode village in the northern state, after remaining absconding for more than a month. Altogether, nine of his associates are presently lodged at Dibrugarh Central Jail. Security in and around the jail premises has been beefed up since March 19, when four members of the Waris Punjab De' (WPD) were brought here in the first batch.

Family feels relieved on seeing Amritpal, says will fight legal battle

Family members of radical preacher Amritpal Singh, who was arrested from Punjab's Moga district on Sunday morning, said they felt relieved on seeing him after more than a month and would fight their legal battle. We came to know through the media at 7:15 am that he has been arrested, Amritpal's uncle Sukhchain Singh said in Amritsar. Today, the family is feeling worry-free. We have seen him (Amritpal), he said. Replying to a question, Amritpal's uncle said the family will go to Assam's Dibrugarh and meet him. We will fight our legal battle, he further said. "Police said that Amritpal was arrested while Jasbir Singh Rode, former Jathedar of the Akal Takht, said he surrendered. It will be clear in a day or two," Sukhchain Singh said. The Punjab Police arrested Amritpal Singh in Moga's Rode village early Sunday, ending an over a month-long manhunt against the radical preacher who styled himself after slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. The preacher was taken into .

AAP govt committed to peace in Punjab: Kejriwal after Amritpal's arrest

The AAP government is committed to ensure peace and security in Punjab for which it will even take "tough decisions", party's national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday. His remarks came after Punjab Police arrested Amritpal Singh in Moga's Rode village early Sunday, ending an over a month-long manhunt against the radical preacher who styled himself after slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. The 29-year-old preacher was taken into custody at 6.45 am as he came out -- in the traditional attire that included a sheathed sword -- of the gurdwara in Rode, Bhindranwale's native village and also the place where he himself took over last year as the chief of Waris Punjab De'. We are committed to the peace and security in Punjab. We are also ready to take tough decisions for this, Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi after the radical preacher was apprehended. He appreciated Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for accomplishing the mission with .