AMRITSAR: It was not the common Sikhs or the Sikh bodies here that showed any interest in Sikh separatists organized London Declaration at Trafalgar Square, London on Sunday evening that seeks separation of Punjab from India and inclusion of some parts of Pakistan in the utopian state Khalistan but the sleuths of intelligence agencies who remained glued to some private TV channels watching live streaming of the event from London.

The Times of India on Sunday evening questioned a cross-section of Sikh’s about London Declaration during its live streaming to strangely find that barring a couple of internet savvy urban Sikh’s, the rural Sikh which constitutes majority of the Sikh population had zilch information of the separatist's events.

Sixty-nine-years old resident of Jandiala, Gurvinder Singh told TOI "These people are doing no good of the Sikh’s living in India but causing an irreparable damage to their reputation, majority of them are either living on asylum on forged documents or are living prosperous lives, those on asylum or having a criminal background in India fear their arrest upon return have gathered at Trafalgar Square to justify their reason for seeking asylum in whatever country they are living and those leading a prosperous life dreams of acquiring power posts in a utopian state but the million dollar question is that whether this prosperous segment which is spewing venom against India will come back with their families to settle in Punjab and set up their businesses to give jobs to local youth to realize their dream country or they will just instigate gullible Punjabi youth to pick up guns as they did during the heydays of militancy in Punjab."

Patiala resident Gurleen Kaur who is pursuing her post graduation in history said in recent past she got a call from her white friend from Canada raising a finger of suspicion on her patriotism. "I was not only surprised but embarrassed when she asked whether I was an Indian or Khalistani and also asked whether Sikh’s will again resort to militancy in Punjab."

She questioned whether those who dream of Khalistan had forgotten that it also includes parts of Pakistan like Nankana Sahib etc. and would they also provoke Pakistani Sikh’s also to revolt against their own nation?

Notably, when a map of Khalistan was published it showed parts of Pakistan which prompted the then military ruler of Pakistan General Zia ul Haq to keep the Sikh population of Pakistan under surveillance.

A senior intelligence officer informed that they were keeping an eye on the Pakistan connection of the organizers of the event. "These separatist Sikhs are causing more damage to the community in India especially those living outside Punjab" he said.

Balkar Singh of Attari village scoffed when asked about a section of foreign-based Sikhs raising the demand of a separate state. “It is nothing but politics but surely a dangerous one, better ignore them and they will be lost in oblivion,” he said.

Meanwhile, various Dalit organizations of UK issued a joint statement on the call for Referendum 2020 disassociating themselves from Sikh separatists.

The statement issued by over twenty various Dalit organizations including Anti Caste Discrimination Alliance,, Asian Rationalist Society, Britain , Bhagwan Valmik Gyan Nath Ashram Birmingham, Bhagwan Valmik Sabha Southall etc. and as many as twenty one Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha’s across the UK said “We Dalits in the UK who have social and economic connections with Punjab, do not support any separatist movement that threatens the unity of India. We therefore do not support the Sikh separatists’ Khalistan Movement and the Referendum 2020 that will cause unrest and division in the UK”.

However, these organizations didn’t miss the opportunity to vent their resentment against India by stating that "Scheduled castes and Scheduled Tribes , collectively referred to as Dalits, are one of the largest minorities in India. They are regular victims of oppression and bonded labour, many suffer from social and economic deprivation, their houses are burnt to the ground, their women are abused, raped and paraded naked, and men and women are murdered routinely on daily basis."

