Toronto: Pro-Khalistan secessionists have come out in support of a separatist referendum scheduled to be held in the Canadian province of Alberta later this month.
There is concern in Ottawa over the referendum amid media reports of potential American interference in the process, favouring the separatists. Prime Minister Mark Carney has obviously opposed separation while provincial Premiere Danielle Smith, who agreed to the referendum, has also come out against breaking away from Canada. That notice stated, “The police have determined that a threat has been made against your life. At this time, we are unable to provide you any further, specific details of the threat.”
The Alberta Referendum will be held on October 19, and focuses on whether the province should remain in Canada, or whether the provincial government should “commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada”. SFJ general counsel Gurpatwant Pannun said, “Whether it is the people of Alberta determining Alberta’s political future or Sikhs determining Punjab’s political future, the fundamental democratic principle is the same: the political future of a people should be determined by the people. SFJ has said that one of its organisers, Avtar Singh Pannu, who is based in the US but has travelled to Edmonton, has received a duty to warn notice from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
