Terming attempts at Khalistan referendum in a few Western countries by an outfit banned by India as “pakhand” and a handiwork of Pakistan’s ISI, Dal Khalsa founder Jaswant Singh Thekedar has said that it is an attempt to mislead people and has nothing to do with Sikhs in India.
In an interview, UK-based Sikh separatist leader Thekedar, said Pakistan is the real enemy of Khalistan and “some Sikhs are working as tools” in hands of Pakistan Government.
He said people of Punjab is not demanding any referendum.
While answering the queries he said that, “The referendum you are talking about, those in Punjab do not demand it. It’s an organisation 2020, they talk of referendum on the instructions of ISI. Referendum does not mean… if Indian passport holders or Indian citizens want it then it is understandable, but it is not that Canadian, American or British people vote. They do not have any right”.
“It is ‘pakhand’ (sham) to mislead people. People are understanding it a source of income for them,” added Thekedar.
When asked about reports last year of Khalistani slogans painted on walls of Indian Consulate in San Francisco in the United States last year, he said such an act had never been done.
“It is not right (to write Khalistan Zindabad) on the consulate building. It was never done in the past, during the movement in the past 40 years. As I said, there is an ISI role in it. They are misleading them, hiring people and getting this done. There is no hand of Sikhs in this,” he said.
On March 15, the Indian consulate in Brisbane in Australia was forced to close down due to safety concerns following unauthorised gathering by Khalistani supporters.
On March 16, the Ministry of External Affairs said that India’s Honorary Consulate in Brisbane was “halted for little while” and the matter had been taken up with Australian authorities and the teams of two countries are in touch.
Talking about, ‘Warris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh, whose supporters had last month stormed Ajnala Police station in Amritsar seeking release of his associate, Thakedar said Amritpal Singh does not know about Sikh history and he will not succeed.
“He (Amritpal Singh) himself, when he was in Dubai, was clean-shaven. He was not a (traditional) Sikh. He does not know anything about Sikh history. I must add that several Amritpal like him will come because those who are used by ISI, they are not used for lifetime. When they feel that a person is no longer of use, they keep other people in line. They pick others then,” he said.
“Amritpal is not a Khalistani, he knows nothing about it. But this is for sure, he has earned a lot on the name of Khalistan. I don’t think he will succeed further,” Thekedar added.
He said Pakistan Government now thinks that they do not need to fight with India. “Some Sikhs are working as tools in their hands. They think they do not need to get into war in which thousands will die (on their side). They now use and feed people, and disturb the Indian Government.”
Thekedar said every issue has a political solution.
“Those who were previously pro-Khalistan, their committee should be constituted by the Indian Government. If solutions like these are found, the Khalistan movement will end.”
He also slammed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government in Punjab over the law and order situation in the State, against going soft on pro-Khalistan elements, saying that the regime under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was, in effect, helping the revival of the Khalistan movement by not taking timely action.
He added that Pakistan would not let a separate Khalistan be carved out as it is aware that the pro-Khalistanis have their eyes on Lahore next. They will come to Nankana Sahib and Panja Sahib. They themselves won’t let this happen. Pakistan is the real enemy of Khalistan,” said Thekedar.
“This Punjab Government is not capable of dealing with this (threat of revival of the Khalistan movement). There is not a single person in the administration who handle this. I feel that by not taking timely action, they are only aiding the revival zof the Khalistan movement,” he said.
Suggesting that the Centre consider agreeing with the demands of the Khalistan leaders, he said it would stop the movement from growing further.
“Their demands for the release of Sikh political prisoners, and removal of Sikhs from Section 25B-2 could be met. It won’t bring any harm to the country if the government were to meet these demands. If the Government accedes to their demands, this movement could be nipped in the bud. Every issue has a political solution. The government can also consider putting together a committee comprising former Khalistan leaders. Through such moves, the government can bring the Khalistan movement to an end,” he said.
Thekedar also lauded the work undertaken and accomplished by Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, “Our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has done a lot for Sikhs and Sikhism. He loves our community. He has done a lot — ended the blacklists, opened Kartarpur Corridor, and talked about Chhote Sahibzadas (the sons of Guru Gobind Singh)”
He said the Central Government led by PM Modi has worked to meet major demands put forward by members of the Sikh community.
“The Government has worked on major demands, and only a few demands and left to be fulfilled. All will be good if they agree to meet these demands,” he said.
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi had met prominent Sikhs from across the country at his official residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. The delegation thanked the Prime Minister for taking steps for the welfare of the Sikh community, and especially for honouring Chaar Sahibzaade through his decision to declare December 26 every year as Veer Baal Diwas.
Each member of the delegation honoured Prime Minister Modi with ‘Siropao’ and ‘Siri Sahib’.
PM Modi said people in many regions of the country are not aware of the contribution and sacrifice of Chaar Sahibzaade. He recalled that whenever he got an opportunity to speak in schools and in front of children, he always spoke about Chaar Sahibzaade.
The decision to observe December 26 as Veer Baal Diwas will go a long way in making children from different corners of the country aware of them, PM Modi said.
He thanked the leaders of the Sikh Community for visiting him, saying that the doors of his house were always open for them. He recalled his connection with them and the time spent together during the course of his stay in Punjab.
He praised the spirit of service of the Sikh community, saying that the world needs to be made more aware of it. He said that his government was fully committed to the welfare of the Sikh community. He talked about several steps taken by the Government in this regard.
He discussed the special arrangements that were made to bring back Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan with full honour while also talking about the steps taken by the government through diplomatic channels to open up the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for Sikh pilgrims.
In February 2022, Prime Minister Modi met members of a Sikh-Hindu Delegation from Afghanistan at his 7 Lok Kalyan Marg residence. They honoured and thanked him for bringing Sikhs and Hindus safely to India from Afghanistan by virtue of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Prime Minister Modi welcomed the delegation saying that they are not guests but are in their own house, adding that India is their home. He talked about the immense difficulties faced by them in Afghanistan and the help provided by the government to bring them to India safely.
He also talked about the significance of the CAA and its benefits for the community while assuring them of his Government’s continuous support in future as well to resolve all issues and difficulties faced by them.
Prime Minister Modi also talked about the significance of the tradition of honouring Guru Granth Sahib, in light of which special arrangements were made to bring back Swaroop of Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan. He also brought up the immense love that he has received from Afghans over the years and fondly recalled his visit to Kabul.
Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who was also part of the delegation that met PM Modi, thanked him for sending help from India for bringing back the community safely, saying that when no one stood with them, Prime Minister Modi ensured constant support and timely help.
Other members of the delegation also thanked PM Modi for standing up for them in times of distress. They said that they had tears in their eyes when they heard him talking about making special arrangements to bring back the ‘Swaroop’ of Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan to India with proper reverence.
They also thanked him for bringing into force the CAA, which they said will be have immense help to the members of their community.
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