Strongly condemn anti-India activities: MEA on pro-Khalistan group's planned 'referendum' in Canada

India condemns anti-national activities amid reports of Khalistan ref India on Friday strongly condemned anti-India activities amid reports that a pro-Khalistan organisation was planning to hold a so-called 'Khalistan referendum' in Edmonton, Canada, later this month, a day before a scheduled vote concerning the political future of Alberta province.

Responding to a question during his bi-weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated New Delhi's opposition to activities directed against India's sovereignty and territorial integrity, although he did not specifically name Canada or any organisation.

"We had a question about certain developments happening in certain part of the world. On that, I can say that we strongly condemn all anti-India activities," Jaiswal said.

His remarks came amid reports that the pro-Khalistan organisation Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) was planning to organise a referendum-related event in Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, on October 18.

Referendum plans draw attention

According to reports, SFJ has allegedly used imagery and promotional material drawing parallels between its proposed referendum on Khalistan and a separate vote scheduled in Alberta on October 19 concerning the province's political future.

International media reports have indicated that Alberta is scheduled to hold a vote on whether the province should remain within Canada or move towards a future referendum on separation.

During the MEA briefing, a journalist referred to the reported plans and questioned what was described as a "false equivalence" between the two developments.

The spokesperson was also asked whether India had raised the matter with Canadian authorities, particularly in view of New Delhi's longstanding objections to activities by pro-Khalistan organisations operating in Canada.

Jaiswal, however, confined his response to condemning anti-India activities and did not indicate whether a fresh diplomatic communication had been made to Ottawa.

Previous events in Canada

The proposed Edmonton event is not the first such exercise planned by SFJ on Canadian soil.

The organisation had previously proposed a similar referendum in Mississauga, near Toronto, in November 2022. An earlier exercise was also organised in Brampton, where supporters of the Khalistan movement participated in an unofficial vote concerning the demand for a separate Sikh homeland.

India had strongly objected to those activities, reiterating its concerns over organisations promoting separatism and urging Canadian authorities to prevent activities directed against India's interests.

In November 2022, New Delhi again raised concerns about plans for a referendum in Canada and called upon Ottawa to take appropriate measures against individuals and organisations involved in activities it considered detrimental to India's sovereignty.

The exercises organised by pro-Khalistan groups have no official status under India's constitutional framework and do not constitute legally recognised referendums on the territorial status of Punjab.

India reiterates position

The Khalistan issue has remained a sensitive aspect of India-Canada relations, with New Delhi repeatedly expressing concern over the activities of separatist organisations based in Canada.

India has maintained that the promotion of separatist agendas and activities threatening its sovereignty should not be permitted under the cover of political expression.

Canadian authorities, meanwhile, have generally distinguished between peaceful political advocacy, which is protected under Canadian law, and activities involving violence, intimidation or other criminal conduct.

The latest developments come as the reported Edmonton event seeks to draw attention through its proximity to Alberta's scheduled vote.

However, the two exercises concern different political and legal questions, and there is no indication that the proposed Khalistan event would carry any official recognition or legal consequence.

For now, the MEA has limited its public response to a categorical condemnation of anti-India activities, without confirming whether the matter has been formally taken up with the Canadian government.