This, at a time when it has come forth that Khalistani separatists have been provided with shelter and asylum by Canada and the US. The only startling part is that it was the White House that took the initiative to have the meeting.
Washington: The White House met with a group of Sikhs who are sympathizers for the Khalistan movement hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to land in the United States for a three-day official visit. The White House assured them “protection from any transnational aggression on its soil.”.
The White House further said that it is committed to “protecting American citizens” from harm while they are within the borders of the United States.
This development comes amid worries that Canada and the US are giving shelter and asylum to Khalistani separatists.
Groups aligned to the Khalistan separatist movement are banned in India, and several of these organizations have carried out terrorist activities in the last few decades.
While the US has said nothing officially on “giving shelter” to such elements, Canada has called it their “freedom of speech.”.
Reacting to this, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said, “India respects and practices freedom of speech, but freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom to support separatism. It does not equate with freedom to threaten foreign diplomats or allow political space to elements advocating violence.”
