Chandigarh: Responding to the unnecessary hype created by Indian media in which it has claimed that Punjab CM Amarinder Singh was threatened at Surrey Nagar Kirtan (Khalsa Day parade) on 22nd April, the human rights group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has termed it as a nefarious attempt to curb the freedom of expression of Sikhs living in Canada.
(L) Amarinder Singh (R) Gurpatwant Singh Pannu.
The rights panel said no threats to life were issued to Amarinder Singh during the parade and all those who participated in it were law-abiding citizens of Canada. Notably the Indian authorities failed to clarify as to which part or rhetoric at the parade did they perceived as a threat to the chief minister of Punjab.
While interacting with the media the SFJ has stated that Canadian Sikhs had a constitutionally protected right to express any political opinion, no matter how discomforting it might be for the Indian Government, including propagating for self determination of the Sikhs.
Calling the Indian Government’s complaint against SFJ to Global Affairs Ministry of Canada as nothing short then fantasy work of the Indian media, Attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal adviser to SFJ, stated, “Separatism is not terrorism and SFJ always works within the framework of law,” reads a quote from a report published in an English vernacular.
“Amarinder Singh is a human rights violator as per the international laws and we are waiting for him to be in Canada, America or European Union Countries so that we can hold the Punjab CM accountable for all the atrocities committed on the Sikhs and prosecute him for crimes against humanity,” reads a quote from a statement given to the media by Gurpatwant Singh pannu.