The Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a US-based pro-Khalistan group, has sought Pakistan's support for its controversial social media campaign 'Referendum 2020' to separate Punjab from India.

SFJ's legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in a statement, has asked Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to provide them political support for its Kartarpur Sahib convention proposed to be held in November 2019.

Pakistan has the moral responsibility to support the Sikh community which has been under siege in India since 1947 and now is the time that the Indian Army under Bipin Rawat should be forced to sit across the surrendering table," Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said.

This, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh believes, has clearly exposed Pakistan's close nexus with pro-Khalistan extremists based in the West.

Ridiculing the SFJ and Pannun, Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said that the activities of the US-based Khalistani organisation have proved the ISI's gameplan in the name of Kartarpur corridor opening.

"The statement by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) seeking Pakistan’s help to liberate Punjab from India has exposed the nefarious designs of the organisation and its nexus with the Pakistan Army and ISI," he said.

The Congress party leader has also taken strong exception to SFJ's plans to hold the Kartarpur Sahib Convention 2019’, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Sri Guru Nanak Dev. This, he said, has lent credence to his fears that Pakistan’s decision to open the Kartarpur corridor was an ISI game-plan to help forces inimical to India, including the SFJ.

It has also once again proved that the Pakistan government had always been, and continues to remain a puppet regime working at the behest of the Army there, he added.

"The whole affair is a bigger conspiracy by the Pakistan Army, which is persistently trying to revive militancy in Punjab," he said.

Captain Amarinder Singh also reiterated that Punjab and the Indian Army were well prepared to counter any such plans of the neighbouring country.

Punjab is today better equipped than it was in the '80s and 90's when Pak-backed terrorism had swept the state, he said, warning Islamabad against extending any further support to SFJ or other such outfits that are hellbent on disturbing the state’s hard-earned peace.

Asserting that he was all in favour of the Kartarpur corridor to fulfil the long-pending aspirations of the Sikh community in India, the chief minister said it was the misuse of the initiative that he was opposed to.

The SFJ had announced to open voter registration from Kartarpur Sahib, Pakistan in November 2019 when hundreds of thousands of Sikhs from more than 30 countries would be visiting Gurdwara where Sri Guru Nanak spent last 18 years of his life. SFJ through its office in Lahore will coordinate the registration of voters and will provide information on the referendum to the Sikhs of Punjab who will be visiting Kartarpur Sahib during 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Sri Guru Nanak Dev.

SFJ also tried to put 'Referendum 2020' hoardings in Punjab last year but they were removed and cases were registered against five accused, including Pannun.

Having failed to get support in Punjab, SFJ now plans a 'Referendum 2020' poll in major cities of North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Kenya and the Middle Eastern Countries during November 2020.

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