Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed 91裸聊视频渟trong concerns91裸聊视频� over Canada91裸聊视频檚 handling of the Punjabi independence movement among the overseas diaspora, on the same day thousands in Metro Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 Sikh community gathered to vote on the matter.
A statement released by India91裸聊视频檚 Ministry of External Affairs said Modi told Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of this weekend91裸聊视频檚 G20 summit in New Delhi that progress in the two countries91裸聊视频� relationship required 91裸聊视频渕utual respect and trust.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚ndia-Canada relations are anchored in shared democratic values, respect for rule of law and strong people-to-people ties,91裸聊视频� the Indian government statement said. 91裸聊视频�(Modi) conveyed our strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada.91裸聊视频�
The statement described the Sikh movement as 91裸聊视频減romoting secessionism and inciting violence91裸聊视频� against Indian diplomats. It called on Canada to work with India on what New Delhi said is a threat to the Canadian Indian diaspora.
The meeting between Modi and Trudeau coincided with voting in British Columbia on a non-binding referendum for a Sikh homeland that supporters call Khalistan.
Large crowds of voters lined up to vote at Surrey91裸聊视频檚 Guru Nanak Gurdwara on Sunday, after the Surrey School District cancelled organizers91裸聊视频� original plans to rent a local high school for the vote, which is part of an international campaign.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, general counsel for the referendum91裸聊视频檚 organizers, said Monday the attendance numbers were so large that 91裸聊视频渢housands91裸聊视频� were not able to vote, and a second phase of voting is now scheduled for Oct. 29.
Pannun said the turnout is a 91裸聊视频渃lear message91裸聊视频� that activists are committed to a 91裸聊视频減eaceful and democratic91裸聊视频� process for the group91裸聊视频檚 goal of seeking Punjabi independence from India.
91裸聊视频淭housands and thousands (of) Sikhs got together (at) 7 o91裸聊视频檆lock in the morning and peacefully dispersed after the voting,91裸聊视频� Pannun said. 91裸聊视频淭hat should be a clear signal even to the Canadians that we follow the laws of the land, and Khalistan is a peaceful and democratic movement 91裸聊视频� and the Indigenous people of the Punjab should have the right to do an official referendum.91裸聊视频�
Organizers have held votes in the Vancouver and Toronto areas, and are preparing for additional referendums in Calgary, Edmonton and Montreal, as well as other parts of Canada, the United States and other countries, Pannun said.
The goal, he said, is to gather all overseas votes by 2025 and present the case to the United Nations for an official referendum on Punjabi independence from India.
Tensions around Sikh independence movements and Canada-India ties escalated in June after Guru Nanak Gurdwara president Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead while in his vehicle at the temple91裸聊视频檚 parking lot.
Activists organized a protest later that month outside the Indian consulate general91裸聊视频檚 office in Vancouver, accusing the country of 91裸聊视频渇oreign interference91裸聊视频� for possible links to the death.
Police say Nijjar91裸聊视频檚 death has not been connected to foreign interference, and there91裸聊视频檚 no reason to believe Canada91裸聊视频檚 Sikh community is at risk.
However, some activists have called on supporters in Canada to 91裸聊视频渂esiege91裸聊视频� India91裸聊视频檚 diplomatic missions, offering cash rewards for the home addresses of its diplomats.
India91裸聊视频檚 High Commissioner in Ottawa, Sanjay Kumar Verma, recently said the concern from Indian diplomats about their safety has been 91裸聊视频渨ell understood91裸聊视频� by Canada in its response to a request for better protection.
91裸聊视频淭here have been posters where I am called an assassin,91裸聊视频� Verma told The Canadian Press.
91裸聊视频淚f a reward is put on my head, doesn91裸聊视频檛 it restrict my movement? So, where is my freedom to move freely in this country?91裸聊视频�
Verma said, however, that Canada is adequately protecting his country91裸聊视频檚 diplomats, and closer ties are possible despite heated diaspora politics.
Canada and India last month paused ongoing talks for a bilateral trade deal, and negotiations have been on and off since 2010.
The Indian government91裸聊视频檚 statement about Modi91裸聊视频檚 meeting with Trudeau said it believes the Punjabi independence movement is involved in 91裸聊视频渄amaging diplomatic premises and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淭he nexus of such forces with organized crime, drug syndicates and human trafficking should be a concern for Canada as well,91裸聊视频� Modi reportedly told Trudeau, the statement said.
Sikh vote organizers say they have been unfairly portrayed by India, saying their referendum poster 91裸聊视频� showing a pen stabbing a gun representing the Indian government 91裸聊视频� is a pro-peace, pro-democracy image showing the group91裸聊视频檚 commitment to voting and non-violent actions.
The same poster was one of the key reasons cited by the Surrey School District in its decision to cancel vote organizers91裸聊视频� planned rental of a school for the vote.
In a statement, the school district said it cancelled the rental of Tamanawis Secondary a week before the event because promotional posters featured images of a weapon alongside the school building.
The district says its decision is neither an endorsement nor a criticism of the movement and refunds will be issued, but organizers said they intend to pursue legal action for what they call a 91裸聊视频渂reach of contract91裸聊视频� and a violation of Charter rights on freedom of expression.
READ ALSO:
READ ALSO:
