Guru Nanak celebration |
New Delhi move is seen as counter to the march in London; people have a right to gather, says U.K. govt. Hours ahead of a pro-Khalistan rally in London, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj announced on Aug 12 that all Indian diplomatic missions would celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of the founder of Sikh faith Guru Nanak. The move is seen as a counter to the rally. In July, India issued a demarche over the ‘Khalistani rally’, intended to drum up support for and awareness of a non-binding referendum on a Sikh homeland in 2020. The British government, however, said people had a right to gather and express their views, provided they did so within the law. The London rally is being organised by Sikhs for Justice, a U.S.-based group, though U.K. groups indicated they would participate too. The pro-Khalistan Sikh Federation U.K. said “some members” would be attending the event, while Dal Khalsa U.K. urged people to join the rally. The organisers received clearance from the London Mayor’s office in the weekend. Meanwhile, Sushma Swaraj said they will take the message of Guru Nanak to the world. His message of sharing the fruits of good deeds with all is the right teaching in this era when I, me, myself is the dominating idea.
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