Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed 害羞草研究所渟trong concerns害羞草研究所� over Canada害羞草研究所檚 handling of the Punjabi independence movement among the overseas diaspora, on the same day thousands in Metro Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 Sikh community gathered to vote on the matter.
A statement released by India害羞草研究所檚 Ministry of External Affairs said Modi told Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of this weekend害羞草研究所檚 G20 summit in New Delhi that progress in the two countries害羞草研究所� relationship required 害羞草研究所渕utual respect and trust.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚ndia-Canada relations are anchored in shared democratic values, respect for rule of law and strong people-to-people ties,害羞草研究所� the Indian government statement said. 害羞草研究所�(Modi) conveyed our strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada.害羞草研究所�
The statement described the Sikh movement as 害羞草研究所減romoting secessionism and inciting violence害羞草研究所� against Indian diplomats. It called on Canada to work with India on what New Delhi said is a threat to the Canadian Indian diaspora.
The meeting between Modi and Trudeau coincided with voting in British Columbia on a non-binding referendum for a Sikh homeland that supporters call Khalistan.
Large crowds of voters lined up to vote at Surrey害羞草研究所檚 Guru Nanak Gurdwara on Sunday, after the Surrey School District cancelled organizers害羞草研究所� original plans to rent a local high school for the vote, which is part of an international campaign.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, general counsel for the referendum害羞草研究所檚 organizers, said Monday the attendance numbers were so large that 害羞草研究所渢housands害羞草研究所� were not able to vote, and a second phase of voting is now scheduled for Oct. 29.
Pannun said the turnout is a 害羞草研究所渃lear message害羞草研究所� that activists are committed to a 害羞草研究所減eaceful and democratic害羞草研究所� process for the group害羞草研究所檚 goal of seeking Punjabi independence from India.
害羞草研究所淭housands and thousands (of) Sikhs got together (at) 7 o害羞草研究所檆lock in the morning and peacefully dispersed after the voting,害羞草研究所� Pannun said. 害羞草研究所淭hat should be a clear signal even to the Canadians that we follow the laws of the land, and Khalistan is a peaceful and democratic movement 害羞草研究所� and the Indigenous people of the Punjab should have the right to do an official referendum.害羞草研究所�
Organizers have held votes in the Vancouver and Toronto areas, and are preparing for additional referendums in Calgary, Edmonton and Montreal, as well as other parts of Canada, the United States and other countries, Pannun said.
The goal, he said, is to gather all overseas votes by 2025 and present the case to the United Nations for an official referendum on Punjabi independence from India.
Tensions around Sikh independence movements and Canada-India ties escalated in June after Guru Nanak Gurdwara president Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead while in his vehicle at the temple害羞草研究所檚 parking lot.
Activists organized a protest later that month outside the Indian consulate general害羞草研究所檚 office in Vancouver, accusing the country of 害羞草研究所渇oreign interference害羞草研究所� for possible links to the death.
Police say Nijjar害羞草研究所檚 death has not been connected to foreign interference, and there害羞草研究所檚 no reason to believe Canada害羞草研究所檚 Sikh community is at risk.
However, some activists have called on supporters in Canada to 害羞草研究所渂esiege害羞草研究所� India害羞草研究所檚 diplomatic missions, offering cash rewards for the home addresses of its diplomats.
India害羞草研究所檚 High Commissioner in Ottawa, Sanjay Kumar Verma, recently said the concern from Indian diplomats about their safety has been 害羞草研究所渨ell understood害羞草研究所� by Canada in its response to a request for better protection.
害羞草研究所淭here have been posters where I am called an assassin,害羞草研究所� Verma told The Canadian Press.
害羞草研究所淚f a reward is put on my head, doesn害羞草研究所檛 it restrict my movement? So, where is my freedom to move freely in this country?害羞草研究所�
Verma said, however, that Canada is adequately protecting his country害羞草研究所檚 diplomats, and closer ties are possible despite heated diaspora politics.
Canada and India last month paused ongoing talks for a bilateral trade deal, and negotiations have been on and off since 2010.
The Indian government害羞草研究所檚 statement about Modi害羞草研究所檚 meeting with Trudeau said it believes the Punjabi independence movement is involved in 害羞草研究所渄amaging diplomatic premises and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淭he nexus of such forces with organized crime, drug syndicates and human trafficking should be a concern for Canada as well,害羞草研究所� Modi reportedly told Trudeau, the statement said.
Sikh vote organizers say they have been unfairly portrayed by India, saying their referendum poster 害羞草研究所� showing a pen stabbing a gun representing the Indian government 害羞草研究所� is a pro-peace, pro-democracy image showing the group害羞草研究所檚 commitment to voting and non-violent actions.
The same poster was one of the key reasons cited by the Surrey School District in its decision to cancel vote organizers害羞草研究所� planned rental of a school for the vote.
In a statement, the school district said it cancelled the rental of Tamanawis Secondary a week before the event because promotional posters featured images of a weapon alongside the school building.
The district says its decision is neither an endorsement nor a criticism of the movement and refunds will be issued, but organizers said they intend to pursue legal action for what they call a 害羞草研究所渂reach of contract害羞草研究所� and a violation of Charter rights on freedom of expression.
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