Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed 香蕉视频直播渟trong concerns香蕉视频直播� over Canada香蕉视频直播檚 handling of the Punjabi independence movement among the overseas diaspora, on the same day thousands in Metro Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 Sikh community gathered to vote on the matter.

A statement released by India香蕉视频直播檚 Ministry of External Affairs said Modi told Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of this weekend香蕉视频直播檚 G20 summit in New Delhi that progress in the two countries香蕉视频直播� relationship required 香蕉视频直播渕utual respect and trust.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚ndia-Canada relations are anchored in shared democratic values, respect for rule of law and strong people-to-people ties,香蕉视频直播� the Indian government statement said. 香蕉视频直播�(Modi) conveyed our strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada.香蕉视频直播�

The statement described the Sikh movement as 香蕉视频直播減romoting secessionism and inciting violence香蕉视频直播� against Indian diplomats. It called on Canada to work with India on what New Delhi said is a threat to the Canadian Indian diaspora.

The meeting between Modi and Trudeau coincided with voting in British Columbia on a non-binding referendum for a Sikh homeland that supporters call Khalistan.

Large crowds of voters lined up to vote at Surrey香蕉视频直播檚 Guru Nanak Gurdwara on Sunday, after the Surrey School District cancelled organizers香蕉视频直播� original plans to rent a local high school for the vote, which is part of an international campaign.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, general counsel for the referendum香蕉视频直播檚 organizers, said Monday the attendance numbers were so large that 香蕉视频直播渢housands香蕉视频直播� were not able to vote, and a second phase of voting is now scheduled for Oct. 29.

Pannun said the turnout is a 香蕉视频直播渃lear message香蕉视频直播� that activists are committed to a 香蕉视频直播減eaceful and democratic香蕉视频直播� process for the group香蕉视频直播檚 goal of seeking Punjabi independence from India.

香蕉视频直播淭housands and thousands (of) Sikhs got together (at) 7 o香蕉视频直播檆lock in the morning and peacefully dispersed after the voting,香蕉视频直播� Pannun said. 香蕉视频直播淭hat should be a clear signal even to the Canadians that we follow the laws of the land, and Khalistan is a peaceful and democratic movement 香蕉视频直播� and the Indigenous people of the Punjab should have the right to do an official referendum.香蕉视频直播�

Organizers have held votes in the Vancouver and Toronto areas, and are preparing for additional referendums in Calgary, Edmonton and Montreal, as well as other parts of Canada, the United States and other countries, Pannun said.

The goal, he said, is to gather all overseas votes by 2025 and present the case to the United Nations for an official referendum on Punjabi independence from India.

Tensions around Sikh independence movements and Canada-India ties escalated in June after Guru Nanak Gurdwara president Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead while in his vehicle at the temple香蕉视频直播檚 parking lot.

Activists organized a protest later that month outside the Indian consulate general香蕉视频直播檚 office in Vancouver, accusing the country of 香蕉视频直播渇oreign interference香蕉视频直播� for possible links to the death.

Police say Nijjar香蕉视频直播檚 death has not been connected to foreign interference, and there香蕉视频直播檚 no reason to believe Canada香蕉视频直播檚 Sikh community is at risk.

However, some activists have called on supporters in Canada to 香蕉视频直播渂esiege香蕉视频直播� India香蕉视频直播檚 diplomatic missions, offering cash rewards for the home addresses of its diplomats.

India香蕉视频直播檚 High Commissioner in Ottawa, Sanjay Kumar Verma, recently said the concern from Indian diplomats about their safety has been 香蕉视频直播渨ell understood香蕉视频直播� by Canada in its response to a request for better protection.

香蕉视频直播淭here have been posters where I am called an assassin,香蕉视频直播� Verma told The Canadian Press.

香蕉视频直播淚f a reward is put on my head, doesn香蕉视频直播檛 it restrict my movement? So, where is my freedom to move freely in this country?香蕉视频直播�

Verma said, however, that Canada is adequately protecting his country香蕉视频直播檚 diplomats, and closer ties are possible despite heated diaspora politics.

Canada and India last month paused ongoing talks for a bilateral trade deal, and negotiations have been on and off since 2010.

The Indian government香蕉视频直播檚 statement about Modi香蕉视频直播檚 meeting with Trudeau said it believes the Punjabi independence movement is involved in 香蕉视频直播渄amaging diplomatic premises and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭he nexus of such forces with organized crime, drug syndicates and human trafficking should be a concern for Canada as well,香蕉视频直播� Modi reportedly told Trudeau, the statement said.

Sikh vote organizers say they have been unfairly portrayed by India, saying their referendum poster 香蕉视频直播� showing a pen stabbing a gun representing the Indian government 香蕉视频直播� is a pro-peace, pro-democracy image showing the group香蕉视频直播檚 commitment to voting and non-violent actions.

The same poster was one of the key reasons cited by the Surrey School District in its decision to cancel vote organizers香蕉视频直播� planned rental of a school for the vote.

In a statement, the school district said it cancelled the rental of Tamanawis Secondary a week before the event because promotional posters featured images of a weapon alongside the school building.

The district says its decision is neither an endorsement nor a criticism of the movement and refunds will be issued, but organizers said they intend to pursue legal action for what they call a 香蕉视频直播渂reach of contract香蕉视频直播� and a violation of Charter rights on freedom of expression.

READ ALSO:

READ ALSO: