Posters for independence by Khalistani groups seen in Punjab
Hoardings demanding independence by Khalistani separatist groups have emerged at various places in Punjab. The hoardings carried slogans like 'Azadi Hi Hal (solution), Punjab Independence 2020 Referendum'. Calling for the removal of the hoardings, State Secretary of the BJP in Punjab Vineet Joshi said, "It is a sinister attempt to disturb the peace and harmony of Punjab by anti-national forces."
Nipped in the bud three decades ago, the Khalistani separatist groups continue to threaten the hard earned peace in the frontier state of Punjab.Controversial hoardings demanding independence and referendum have created a stir. The hoardings with slogans like "Azadi Di Gal, Punjab Independence, 2020 Referendum" were installed at various places including Fatehgarh, Roopnagar, Dhanaula in Barnala and Rajpura in Patiala.The administration has neither removed the controversial hoardings nor have taken any action against the people behind the controversy. Reacting to the controversy, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has slammed the state government for having failed to remove the hoardings and maintaining a stoic silence over the efforts being made by the Khalistani groups to revive terrorism. WHO IS BEHIND THESE CAMPAIGNS?BJP claimed the hoardings were put up by a Canada and US based NGO Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). It is the same organisation which had opposed Captain Amarinder Singh's election campaign in Canada."While at one hand the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh is vocal against the Khalistani elements including Sikhs for Justice, his government's silence over the referendum hoardings is deplorable," Secretary BJP, Vineet Joshi said.BJP has appealed the state government to remove the hoardings immediately and threatened to destroy them in case the local administration did not act immediately.