Close X
Thursday, January 16, 2025
ADVT 
India

‘Referendum 2020’ Backed By 'Handful Of Sikhs', Bogus Issue: Indian Envoy

Darpan News Desk IANS, 16 Oct, 2019 07:03 PM

    The “Referendum 2020” backed by a “handful” of Sikhs is a “bogus issue” which is being supported by a neighbour opposed to India, country’s top envoy to the US said on Sunday.


    Stressing that those supporting the idea had “little support” from the community, Ambassador Harsh Vardhan Shringla said such groups were “getting desperate” and going into “acts of terrorism”.


    This is for the first time that a top Indian diplomat has come out openly against the “Referendum 2020”, promoted by separatist Sikhs for the creation of Khalistan.


    “The organisers (of referendum) are just a handful of people. The so-called Referendum 2020 is a bogus issue,” he told reporters after a visit to a Sikh gurdwara in Baltimore.


    “They are getting desperate, going into acts of terrorism and also militancy. I think they would be a thing of the past,” Shringla added.


    Responding to a question, Shringla also termed the perpetrators of referendum as agents of Pakistan.


    “These are people supported, as we know, by our neighbouring state who was constantly opposed us. They are agents of that state. They have spread false rumours and propaganda,” Shringla said.


    Praising Sikhs for playing a role in strengthening the relationship between the US and India, the envoy said, “We will continue to work with the majority of the community and ignore those who are a small and dwindling community.”

    Sporting a traditional Sikh turban and dressed in a white kurta and payjama, the ambassador also interacted with members of the Sikh community at the event hosted by the Sikh Association of Baltimore Gurdwara and the Sikhs of America.


    Asserting that the Modi Government had taken steps to address grievances of the community, Shringla said there were no more issues on the table.


    “And whatever they are, the (Indian) government is completely receptive to working with the community,” he said, adding that the Indian Embassy, along with eminent members of the community, was planning to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev on November 12.


    “It will be a tremendous event. We we’ll have the participation of congressmen, important people from the United States. It is a symbol of not only the success of the Sikh community but also a support for a strong India-US relationship,” Shringla said.


    Eminent Indian-American Sikh leader Jassee Singh also said the proponents of “Referendum 2020” did not represent the voice of the community, stressing that they were just a small group.


    “At the end of the day, we are working with the Indian government on several Sikh issues. And we are getting things done through talks,” he said, adding that a vast majority of the Sikh community throughout the world was with India.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Indian economy grew 7.2% in 2018-19, likely to top at 7.5%: World Bank

    The report retained the forecasts it made in January for India.

    Indian economy grew 7.2% in 2018-19, likely to top at 7.5%: World Bank

    Indian gets 7-year jail for raping woman in UK

    Indian gets 7-year jail for raping woman in UK
    An Indian man who fled the UK after raping a woman in 2017 has been sentenced to seven years in jail.

    Indian gets 7-year jail for raping woman in UK

    Facebook launches 1st interactive game show in India

    Facebook launches 1st interactive game show in India
    Starting June 12, the interactive show will air from Wednesday to Sunday on Facebook's dedicated video platform - Facebook Watch, the company said in a statement.

    Facebook launches 1st interactive game show in India

    HRD Minister seeks action plan to develop Indian languages

    Reviewing the working of the language councils across the country along with other higher education schemes, he also asked the officials to conduct further research in the wealth of knowledge hidden in the ancient texts and integrate them with modern science.

    HRD Minister seeks action plan to develop Indian languages

    Four asked to plant 270 saplings for cutting 27 trees

    The police arrested Ramlal Teli, Jaswant Dhobi, Dinesh Teli and Mohammad Hussain on the complaint of the Forest Department.

    Four asked to plant 270 saplings for cutting 27 trees

    Facebook honours Kochi teenager

    Facebook honours Kochi teenager
    K.S. Ananthakrishna, a B.Tech student at Pathanamthitta Mount Zion College of Engineering College, detected the bug that enabled other people to completely remove files on WhatsApp without knowledge of the user

    Facebook honours Kochi teenager