Sikhs for Justice, a representative group supporting the formation of Khalistan, an independent state for Sikhs, have planned to launch a global referendum in the London for 30 million of their worldwide population, asking for a separate and independent state.
Sikhs for Justice, which is a New York based group has announced ‘London Declaration’ a peaceful campaign for a non binding referendum on the question of Sikhs’ right to self determination, as guaranteed by the UN Charter and International Convention on Civil and Political Rights.
Campaigners are making the case for independence on the basis that Sikhs are indigenous people of Punjab with a separate, religious, cultural and linguistic identity and allegedly been repressed by India. They also claim that Sikhs in Punjab are victims of economic exploitation with the state of India ‘diverting water to Rajasthan and Haryana’.
The plan for the global referendum in 2020 will be launched in London Trafalgar Square at a rally on 12thAugust, ahead of India’s Independence Day.
The group believes they qualify for a separate and sovereign state Khalistan on the basis of identifiable territory, distinct culture- involving religion, language, social and other characteristics, a will for self governance and capacity for self governance.
Gurpatwant S Pannun, legal advisor to Sikhs for Justice exclusively speaking to Asian Voice said, “this is a peaceful, democratic campaign to give Sikhs the right to determine their own future...”
When asked if they have approached the Modi government, he added, the campaign is meant for the state of India independent of whichever government sits in the centre.
In April 2018, during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK for CHOGM, members of the Sikh community had desecrated the Indian flag in the Parliament square.
When asked about the incident, Mr Pannun said, “If you have roots to India, they consider flag different from the symbol over here. In the US and UK that is the way to show your resentment. If Indians take flag as their ruler, I didn't see any journalists or media, whether from the UK or Indians, when they see dead bodies or rapes of the Sikh women, I did not see any comments from the Indian media the way they are making about burning of a flag. We are not for burning anything, but this is a symbolic thing, that some individuals did to show their resentment, that this flag, is responsible for the killings and the blood of the minorities in India.”
