Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday said the “no-show” London rally by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) for a separate state has exposed the “total lack of ground support” for the ‘Referendum 2020’ even outside India.
He also dismissed the entire affair as a “futile exercise” by a “sham” organisation to create trouble in India, particularly Punjab.
“The SFJ is just a group of fringe elements that is playing into the hands of Pakistan’s ISI to divide India, but they have failed, and will continue to fail in their nefarious designs,” the chief minister said in a statement here.
“The presence of Pakistani politicians at the rally confirms that it was out and out an ISI plot, which fell through, just as their attempts to create trouble in India have been failing all these years”, he said.
I am not taking nonsense from anybody, whether it is ISI or anybody else: @capt_amarinder, Punjab CM | #AntiIndiaReferendum pic.twitter.com/yeWAlYaP7q
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) August 10, 2018
Reacting to the UK rally, the chief minister said it turned out to be a “damp squib” participated by a handful of elements.
He, however, felt the UK government should have put its foot down and not allowed its soil to be used to propagate anti-India campaign.
@capt_amarinder told media he don’t take #Referendom2020 seriously it’s Sham organisation & brainchild of ISI & there’s no taker for #Referendum2020. @Pannun_Lawyer tweeted he is ready to face @capt_amarinder at Any Place Any Time To Debate. Law, Justice & History Is On Our Side” pic.twitter.com/lqsdXMwv3D
— Ravinder Singh Robin (@rsrobin1) August 13, 2018
Further castigating the UK government, Singh said that by allowing the protesters to use Trafalgar Square, instead of the usual Hyde Park generally used for such purposes, it had shown its total complacency in the issue.
The entire referendum business is nothing but a “money making racket” of the SFJ, with no takers for the so-called campaign either in India, or even outside, as is evident from the poor show at the rally,” Singh added.
#TrafalgarSquare witness Indian verses Indian. Introspection needed . #referendom2020 #punjabiSubha pic.twitter.com/itwjNNxPy5
— Ravinder Singh Robin (@rsrobin1) August 12, 2018
He said there was virtually “nil local support” for the rally and whatever little support they had managed to garner was of “similar fringe elements” from other countries.
Nazir Ahmed speaking on stage at the #Khalistan rally. He spoke of breaking up #Punjab from India . Where is Sikh leadership ?#Referendum2020 pic.twitter.com/olD8BUMQiC
— Ravinder Singh Robin (@rsrobin1) August 12, 2018
“The presence of Pakistani leaders, including Nazir Ahmed who openly spoke of dividing India and splitting Kashmir, Punjab and Nagaland from it, made it clear that the rally was a game plan of the ISI — a fact further endorsed by the presence of separatist Kashmiris living in UK,” Singh added.
Citing ground reports, the chief minister claimed that some of those Kashmiris were forced to wear turbans to make them look like Sikhs.
And a handful of Sikhs around had evidently been forced to come, Singh said.
This is a complete sham organisation, these are the people who are frustrated. I don't look at it seriously: @capt_amarinder, Punjab CM | #AntiIndiaReferendum pic.twitter.com/mWN1Quf3U8
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) August 10, 2018
Describing the SFJ fringe elements as mere “social media tigers”, who are trying to create hype even when they have no support, both in India and abroad, Singh said the Sikhs was a patriotic community which has always stood for the unity and integrity of the country.
As many as 90,000 Sikhs are serving in the Indian Army, defending the country’s borders, he pointed out, adding that the SFJ could “never succeed in misleading the community” into falling for their “selfish” designs.
#loveforindia #TrafalgarSquare #London #referendom2020 pic.twitter.com/PBBixamrtc
— Ravinder Singh Robin (@rsrobin1) August 12, 2018
Singh warned the SFJ and all such “anti-India” forces to stay out of the country and refrain from any attempt to foment trouble in Punjab, or any other part of India.
Their efforts will backfire on them, he said, adding that his government would deal with such elements with an “iron hand”. Nobody would be allowed to disturb the peace and the communal harmony in the state, he said.
Indians could not get their fellows out to counter Pro Khalistan Rally so had to bring PAID dancers who FAILED to attract Englishmen. #LDN2020Declararion With 15000+ attendance Got To Media Political Loosers and Jai Hind Bhagat’s. @TimesNow @IamNaveenKapoor @ANI @AskAnshul @ANI pic.twitter.com/gvsv34sOtV
— Gurpatwant Singh Pannun (@Pannun_Lawyer) August 13, 2018
Pro-Khalistani supporters yesterday assembled at Trafalgar Square in London in a rally organised by the SFJ, intended to raise awareness for a non-binding referendum in 2020, calling for the Sikh-majority state of Punjab to be granted “independence”.
INDIAN DIASPORA GROUPS HOLD RALLY TO COUNTER PRO-KHALISTAN PUBLIC MEETING IN LONDON
More than 2,500 pro-Khalistan supporters gathered to issue what the organiser, US-based Sikhs for Justice, called a “London declaration” to hold the “referendum” in 2020. Many travelled from other parts of Europe and elsewhere for the event, with some participation by UK-based groups.
The event was allegedly backed by elements in Pakistan.
A pro-India rally was organised at London’s Trafalgar Square on Sunday in response to another by secessionists calling for a referendum on an independent Sikh nation,The Hindu Business Line reported.
#LDN2020Declararion says pic.twitter.com/nvllgYNwpr
— Ravinder Singh Robin (@rsrobin1) August 13, 2018
Indian diaspora groups organised the “We Stand With India” and “Love My India” events to counter the pro-Khalistan “London Declaration for a Referendum 2020”, which was attended by more than 2,000 pro-Khalistan supporters from across the United Kingdom and Europe.
UK: People of Indian origin, living in the United Kingdom, protest against Referendum 2020 in London. pic.twitter.com/GQCfvhe2AD
— ANI (@ANI) August 12, 2018
There was considerable police presence to segregate the pro-India and pro-Khalistan groups. British authorities had earlier rejected India’s demand that permission be denied for the event on grounds of freedom of expression, leading to renewed strain in bilateral relations.
The pro-India group held placards, sang patriotic songs and danced to the accompaniment of loud dhols, as the rival group tried to drown out the chorus with slogans in support of Khalistan and against the Indian government.
Who is the third country who is actually on “Divide and Rule” pic.twitter.com/WyGqcKc653
— Ravinder Singh Robin (@rsrobin1) August 12, 2018
The pro-India group included members of the Overseas Friends of BJP, whose president Kuldeep Shekhawat claimed that allowing the event betrayed Britain’s “hidden agenda” to support Khalistan and Pakistan.
— Kiran Pasunuri (@pasunuri_kiran) August 12, 2018
Sikh separatist leader Jaswant Singh Thekedar, however, condemned the rally, claiming it was Pakistan-backed propaganda, ANI reported. He accused Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who was one of the organisers, of being a Pakistani stooge.
Meanwhile, at the pro-India rally, supporters waved the Indian tricolour, waved placards saying “India Jai Ho” and “Vande Mataram”, and played dhols (drums) in an attempt to drown out the speeches of the Khalistan supporters.
Historic response of patriotic Hindu Sikh Community in love with their country of origin India. People assemble at #TrafalgarSquare #London showing solidarity with #India dancing on the tune of “Dhool” waving the tricolour 4000 miles away from India against Pro-#Khalistan rally. pic.twitter.com/0szFdJ3F8k
— Ravinder Singh Robin (@rsrobin1) August 12, 2018
Hundreds of people assembled at #Trafalgar Square on today for Anti #India and Pro India. Similarity was both side #Indians. A Punjabi poet said one “ Laali Akhiyaan di Pai dasdi Aay,,,,* Roye Tusi Vi Ho, Roye Assi Vi Aan...!!” INTROSPECTION NEEDED #LDN2020Declaration pic.twitter.com/hIvmcTOoz2
— Ravinder Singh Robin (@rsrobin1) August 12, 2018
Aftermath of #LDN2020Declararion My journalist friends questioned; it may be hundreds in numbers but why such poor crowd as compared with people turned out on a call of #Referendum2020? Where was shortfall ? Why a large number of Sikhs at #TrafalgarSquare angry with GOI? pic.twitter.com/yvunzRy6Ju
— Ravinder Singh Robin (@rsrobin1) August 13, 2018
#punjab already faced black days. No more black days please. Indian verses Indian . Let’s do something better for PUNJAB pic.twitter.com/lny4lXK1ex
— Ravinder Singh Robin (@rsrobin1) August 12, 2018
