Kashmiri, Sikh groups seek joint strategy against India after Canada murder

Kashmiris and Sikh community must launch a joint strategy against India’s illegal extra-territorial actions which have resulted in murder of innocent citizens, said leaders and activists of the two communities.

“The murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar by Indian government agents in Canada demands overseas Kashmiris and members of the Sikh community join hands and fight back India,” said Joga Singh, speaker, World Sikh parliament.

Joining Singh in this call were Fahim Kayani, President of Tehreek-e-Kashmir (TeK) UK; Muzammil Ayub Thakur, President of WKFM; Loveshinder Singh, Coordinator of the Federation of Sikh Organisations; and Chaudhry Ikramul Haq of TeK.

The Kashmiri and Sikh leaders addressed a joint news conference in Birmingham on Wednesday night in the wake of Canadian government’s allegations against India.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's statement, acknowledging credible allegations of India's involvement in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, has sent shockwaves globally.

Activists and freedom fighters are now taking additional measures against Indian agents.

Kayani stressed that both Kashmiris and the Sikh community have consistently informed the international community about India’s alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings.

“Now, Indian rogue agents have struck deep inside the western nations who gave India a freehand to commit genocidal actions against Kashmiris,” Kayani said. “Canada must show steadfastness to take this case to its logical conclusion as there are tens of hundreds of such cases where India is deep involved in crimes against humanity which need to be exposed, one by one.”

Read also: Indian state sponsored-murder in Canada tip of iceberg, says Kashmiri leader

The Kashmiri and Sikh activists outlined a "joint strategy" to shed light on India's actions in Western capitals, where human rights are championed.

“The revelations by Canada have exposed the state-sponsored terrorism by India across the globe,” they said during the news conference.

“We demand the governments across the globe should punish India by expelling their diplomats as it is sheer violation of international law and Vienna conventions as diplomatic missions are being used as murder houses of activists and freedom lovers,” they added.

Drawing a historical parallel, the leaders likened the situation to the appeasement of Nazi Germany. “This is not the time to appease Modi, who is a murder accused himself. If western nations continue to remain mum, they are complicit in India’s extra-judicial and extra-territorial murders and illegal activities,” they maintained.

Separately, Kayani said that India has been involved in dangerous games for long time and this is not new.

“The expose by EU DisInfo Lab few years back which revealed as how Indian government was directly involved in running fake news network across the western capital to discredit Kashmiri freedom movement is part of same game where New Delhi’s rogue agents are harassing, intimidating and murdering activists,” Kayani said.

He added: “This is the time for human rights champions in the US and Europe to open eyes and hold India accountable.”

“Human rights can’t be selective and justice can’t be divisive,” he stressed.