The Indian government’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Ajit Doval, has protested with the British government over the Khalistan referendum events across the United Kingdom, organised by a pro-Khalistan Sikh organisation.
The Hindustan Times has reported that Ajit Doval has made it clear to his UK counterpart Stephen Lovegrove that the Modi government takes strong exception to the UK allowing Khalistan Referendum by “weaponising” a “section of the Indian diaspora”.
Doval conveyed India’s serious concerns to London for allowing “banned pro-Khalistan organisation Sikhs For Justice to hold a referendum on the secession of Punjab on October 31”, HT reported.
The tension between UK and India was reported on Sunday 14 November as the organiser “Sikhs For Justice” (SFJ) held yet another phase of voting in Birmingham and Barking (London) for the Khalistan Referendum campaign, which kicked off in London on 31st October, according to media reports.
The report says the Indian position was conveyed during the bilateral strategic dialogue on November 3 in London.
“It is understood that India made it clear that there was total peace in Punjab with radical Sikh elements failing to get even one per cent of the vote during assembly or Lok Sabha polls held every five years. The Modi government conveyed its serious concern that the UK government is turning a blind eye to the open radicalisation of the Indian diaspora by Sikh banned groups to promote their secessionist agenda.”, the report said, adding, “Despite the SFJ being a banned organization in India since 2019 and its leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannu being declared a terrorist, the UK allowed the US-based extremist organisation to conduct an illegal referendum on the Indian Punjab.”
UK is reported to have assured India that no anti-India sentiment will be promoted during the event.
