New Delhi: India has issued a démarche to the UK to protest a meeting convened by separatist organisation Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) in London next month.
The meeting has been called with the intention to shape the ‘Referendum 2020’ campaign in August that seeks a separate Khalistan and “independence of Punjab”.
“We have taken up the matter with the UK government. We have also issued a démarche and we expect that the UK government does not allow any such group to use its country whose intention is to spread hate and which can affect our bilateral ties,” said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Ravish Kumar. “We have told them the intention of the event is the same.”
He was responding to a question regarding what action has India taken to stop the meeting.
Kumar said that the ties of the Sikh community residing in the UK and other parts of the world are good with India.
“Their ties with the country they reside in are also good. As far as the small groups are concerned, they are fringe elements and their job is to spread hate and communal disharmony,” he said.
According to media reports, the SFJ has also offered to sponsor Punjabi youth and political activists to take part in the gathering next month.
Khalistan remains a sensitive issue in bilateral ties between India and the UK.
In April, India lodged a strong protest with the UK after the tricolour was burnt by pro-Khalistani elements at parliament square while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was addressing a diaspora event in Westminster.
(PTI)