Several members of the Sikh community held a protest outside the UN headquarters in New York to raise their concerns over the escalating artocites by Indian forces in Indian-held Kashmir and Prime Minister Nerendra Modi.
Moreover, tensions between India and Pakistan and its impact on the lives of the people in Punjab.
The ‘Save Punjab Rally’, organised on Thursday (today) by rights group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) in collaboration with civil rights groups and management committees of the Sikh temples across North America, also demanded a referendum in Punjab.
According to details, the protesters were holding placards and banners with anti-Indian statements inscribed on them.
During the rally, held across the street from the UN headquarters, the demonstrators, including several pro-Khalistan Sikhs, carried placards that read ‘Boycott India’s Jingoistic War’ and ‘Support Punjab Referendum.’
They said that Sikhs from across the world won’t rest until independence of Punjab and creation of Khalistan from Indian government’s brutality.
Sikh community urged the UN to declare India as a terrorist state and also demanded to boycott Indian products.
Panic gripped the residents of villages in many border districts of Punjab after reports of escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan spread.
Indian authorities have also begun evacuating people residing in the villages falling within 10 kilometres of international border. Heads of local gurdwaras, temples with the help of Sarpanches have asked the people to evacuate at the earliest in the light of escalating situation.
Punjab shares a 553-km border with Pakistan. It has six districts which lie close to the international border. There are some 135 villages which lie very close to the IB.