India strongly condemns anti-India activities over planned Khalistan referendum in Canada

India on Friday strongly condemned “all anti-India activities” amid reports that a pro-Khalistan group plans to hold a so-called referendum in Canada's Edmonton on October 18, a day before Alberta's scheduled vote on its future relationship with Canada.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal made the remarks during his bi-weekly media briefing while responding to a question about the proposed event. He did not name any country or organisation.

A journalist referred to reports that Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a pro-Khalistan group, was planning to hold a “so-called 'Khalistan referendum' on Punjab” in Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, and asked how New Delhi viewed what was described as a “false equivalence” and an “anti-India agenda” being pursued on Canadian soil. The spokesperson was also asked whether India had taken up the matter with Ottawa.

“We had a question about certain developments happening in certain part of the world. On that, I can say that we strongly condemn all anti-India activities,” Jaiswal said.

According to international media reports, Alberta is scheduled to vote on October 19 on whether the province should remain part of Canada or move towards a future referendum on separation.

Reports suggest that SFJ has used imagery to draw a parallel between the provincial vote and its proposed referendum in Edmonton a day earlier.

India has previously urged Canada to prevent anti-India activities by individuals and groups based in the country.

In November 2022, New Delhi reiterated its concerns over plans by certain groups to hold a so-called referendum in Canada on the demand for Khalistan, and called on Ottawa to prevent such activities.

SFJ had proposed a similar exercise in Mississauga, near Toronto, in November 2022. An earlier such event was held in Brampton, Canada.