LONDON – Sikh separatists and their supporters gathered in London’sTrafalgar Square on Sunday to demand a referendum on an independenthomeland to be carved out of India.

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They brandished banners reading “Free Punjab, End Indian occupation”,”Punjab Referendum 2020 for Khalistan” and “We will re-establish Punjab asan independent country”.

The protest was organised by the US and Canada-based group Sikhs forJustice, and drew people from all over the world, many of them chanting”Khalistan”.

The Indian government has expressed concern to London over the activity ofexpatriate Sikh separatists, who want to create a homeland of Khalistan inIndia’s northern Punjab state.

The Foreign Office confirmed it discussed the rally with the Indian HighCommission, but a spokeswoman told AFP: “Peaceful protest is a vital partof a democratic society.”

Gurpatwant S. Pannun, legal advisor to Sikhs for Justice, said: “This is apeaceful, democratic campaign to give Sikhs the right to determine theirown future.”

Jas Singh, 26, a demonstrator from London, told AFP: “In India, anybody whospeaks for a referendum gets picked up and put in jail.” – APP/AFP