NEW YORK (TIP): Indian Americans have expressed outrage over a citation issued by the general assembly of the US state of Connecticut recognizing the  anniversary of the so-called “declaration of Sikh independence”.

In the “official citation” dated April 29, the Connecticut general assembly congratulated the pro-Khalistan organization World Sikh Parliament “in recognition of the 36th anniversary of the declaration of Sikh independence”.

Scores of Indian American groups and powerful community leaders have been writing letters to the members of the Connecticut State Assembly and its leadership underlining that such a citation questions the territorial integrity of India and undermines a growing India-US relationship.

“This citation will be detrimental to the interest of our Connecticut. Thus, we urge you to rescind this citation,” Milan Cultural Association of Connecticut said, noting that this citation is a highly condemnable move by the Connecticut administration and is not at all acceptable.

“This citation proves how oblivious it’s of the real issue. The state has waded into the unknown and unwanted territory without talking and consulting the larger Indian American community in Connecticut,” it said.

Federation of Indian Association (FIA), Ohio, said the Connecticut State Assembly’s decision to issue the citation is an “irresponsible act”. “We have noted with deep concern a Citation by the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut congratulating on Sikh independence. The irresponsible act calls into question the territorial integrity of India and lends credence to forces which desire dismemberment of India,” it said.

“This can never be the will or intent of the people of Connecticut,” it said. FIA, New England said that the citation appears to have been issued based on misinformation by some fringe elements with a parochial, nefarious and deplorable agenda of sowing discord in the community for their politically motivated subversive interests.

“It is a gross misuse, rather an abuse, of the august General Assembly of Connecticut,” it said.

FIA, Tri-State (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) urged the elected members of the General Assembly of Connecticut to “mitigate this very sad and unfortunate action” and take the needed steps to “promptly rectify this illegitimate act of supporting subversive activities.” Ankur Vaidya, chairman of FIA, hoped that the facts will be checked, and that truth will prevail in the General Assembly of Connecticut.

“Such despicable and deplorable action by divisive elements with selfish hidden agendas must be collectively and strongly condemned,” he said. The Association of Indians in America, New York said that this “outrageous” citation is an affront to India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“The so-called citation is nothing but a nefarious attempt to sow division in the Indian-American community on religious lines and a manipulation of the platform of the General Assembly of Connecticut,” it said.

“We strongly appeal to the lawmakers to recall the citation,” it said. Jagdish Sewhani, president of the American Indian Public Affairs Committee, said this citation is “absolutely unacceptable”.

“This irresponsible act of supporting the secessionist movement in India is absolutely unacceptable. The USA, the oldest democracy, and India, the largest democracy, share very close and strategic relationships,” he said.

Thomas Abraham, chairman of Global Organization for People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) International, called on the Connecticut Assembly to put out a statement disassociating itself from the citation.

“At this point, our state’s interest is to attract Indian businesses and technology related companies to start their outfits in our state so as to create employment in the state. This public image of Connecticut being anti-India goes against our interests. We request that you issue a public statement to dissociate from this citation,” he said.

GOPIO has written to Connecticut State Senators and Assembly Representatives who introduced this citation to dissociate themselves from it.

“There are 20 million Sikhs living peacefully with all other communities all over India and this citation goes against the integrity of India,” said Ashok Nichani, president of Connecticut chapter of GOPIO.

The citation has resulted in outrage among Indian Americans with many of them urging President Joe Biden’s administration to condemn it.

Meanwhile, the Indian Consulate in New York condemned the citation and termed it an “attempt by some mischievous elements to use the name of the Assembly for their nefarious purposes”.

“These vested interests seek to divide communities and promote bigotry and hatred,” the consulate said.

The Consulate statement read :

“We condemn the so-called Citation of the General Assembly of the State of

Connecticut in the USA regarding an illegal act.

“This is an attempt by some mischievous elements to use the name of the

Assembly for their nefarious purposes. These vested interests seek to divide

communities and promote bigotry and hatred. Their agenda of violence has no

place in democratic societies like the USA and India.

The Embassy of India in Washington D.C. and the Consulate General of India in

New York will take up this issue appropriately with the concerned US

lawmakers.”