Sant Singh Chatwal, a prominent Indian-American businessman based in New York, spoke of the unwavering love and loyalty of the Sikhs towards India. He empathetically stated that more than 99 per cent of Sikhs have a deep affection for their homeland and rejected the notion of widespread support for Khalistan, emphasising that extremist elements discussing this issue have never placed their foot in Punjab.
Chatwal, who has been residing in the United States of America for over five decades (fifty years), expressed his clear stance on the issue, asserting that the number of people supporting Khalistan in the US is exceedingly low, I am very clear that there are very fewer people over here supporting Khalistan in the US is exceedingly low. “I do not know who is funding them, they have never been to Punjab. I am a proud Sikh, and I have been living in this country for more than fifty years,” he said
“There is hardly anybody who is supporting Khalistan. There is some miscommunication going on. We are all Sikhs, everybody and more than 99 per cent, we love India. India is our country, and nobody is interested in Khalistan.” he said.
PM Modi has done a great job
The prominent businessman also lauded the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the pride the Sikhs feel in the steps that he has taken to benefit the community. “India, under the leadership of PM Modi, has done a great job. He opened the Kartarpur Corridor for Sikhs. He has done a lot for Sikhs,” Chatwal remarked.
“Even with PM Modi being there, we are very proud of what he has done for the Sikhs. I am openly saying that there is hardly anyone supporting Khalistan. I am afraid to say that the people who support Khalistan have never been to Punjab. I do not know what they are thinking about it, they are very little. Whether they are in Canada or the USA, there is no one to support them.”
Addressing the Khalistan Issue and the ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and Canada following the killing of Khalistani terrorists Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Chatwal said. “This has become a big political tension between the two countries, and there is some sort of miscommunication going on.”
Achievement of the Sikh Community in India
He stressed the prominence of Sikhs in India, highlighting their contributions to various prestigious positions in India. We have a Sikh as one of the top ministers in India, Hardeep Singh Puri and the Indian diplomat and Ambassador to the United States of America, envoy Taranjit Singh Sandhu, who is in Washington DC.
He expressed the unity and affection of the Sikh community in North America towards India. “We love India, and we visit India. In India, Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister, and Giani Zail Singh was the president for five years. We have army chief, navy chief and airforce chief in very prominent positions.
In the Indian Army, there is a Huge chunk of Sikhs. They serve in numerous regiments, such as the Sikh Regiment, Sikh Light Infantry, and Punjab Regiment and have shown their valour and loyalty to India by fighting in various India-Pakistan Wars and border skirmishes.
Sikhs such as former Chief Of Army Staff, General Bikram Singh, Lt General KJS Dhillon Kuldip Singh Chandpuri are brave officers of the Indian Army, and Air Marshal VS Dhanoa was also a Sikh who served as the Air Force Chief.
