LONDON: The director of a leading Canadian public policy think tank stated Pakistan is not sponsoring pro-Khalistan groups like Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) since Sikhs outside India generously support parties opposing New Delhi.
Terry Milewski, a veteran CBC journalist and senior figure at conservative-leaning public policy think tank Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI), spoke hours after the SFJ and its counsel general Gurpatwant Singh Pannun filed defamation proceedings against UK Conservative Party’s pro-BJP Lord Rami Ranger at the UK High Court for falsely accusing Pakistan’s spy agency of funding them.
BJP ally Terry Milewski investigated the Sikh diaspora, Khalistan, and pro-Khalistan groups. An internet debate asked if Pakistan funded the SFJ.
While, Canadian professor and think-tank head denied Pakistan’s ISI financed the SFJ and its lobbying. He stated Sikhs donate generously. Terry Milewski denied that Pakistan funds the SFJ.
Moreover, SFJ doesn’t require Pakistani money. Sikhs fund SFJ. Pakistan’s poverty exempts the SFJ from begging.
SFJ-veteran Terry Milewski The SFJ won the first round of a major defamation case at the Superior Court of Ontario, Canada. It was against Terry Milewski the think tank Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI) over allegations that the SFJ and its Khalistan referendum campaign was a project run, controlled, funded, influenced, and financed by Pakistan in November 2021.
Judge William Black ordered Terry and MLI to reimburse SFJ’s legal fees after assessing the evidence.
While, Terry Milewski and the MLI’s disputed September 9, 2020 piece, “Khalistan: A Project of Pakistan,” inspired SFJ’s position.
The article incorrectly claimed that Pakistan controls the SFJ referendum campaign, that it does not represent Sikhs, that it favors Pakistan, and that Pakistan limits the campaign.
Moreover, Terry’s recent words show he no longer believes what he did a few months ago.
SFJ’s separatist referendum
India prohibited the SFJ’s separatist referendum in 2019. In western democracies, referendums are sacred.
The SFJ and its leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun sued Lord Rami Ranger of the Tory Party in the UK High Court last week for falsely accusing them of being agents of a Pakistani intelligence agency and getting money from Pakistan for running a famous Khalistan outfit.
The SFJ and Pannun are suing Lord Ranger for his statements that they are both part of a conspiracy mounted and funded by India’s enemies, Pakistan; that the SFJ has been declared a terrorist organization by the Indian government; that the SFJ leader, Punnun, has used SFJ funds for his own benefit, including to buy a £1 million house; and that Pakistan and the Pakistani intelligence agency fund them.
Moreover, Pro-Khalistan Sikh activist Pannun and the SFJ are suing Conservative party contributor Lord Rami Ranger for two defamatory publications. Lord Rami Ranger’s first Pakistani internet paper article on November 30, 2021, questioned the SFJ and Pannun’s religion and wealth.
Lord Ranger said Pakistan’s “idea is to control the Gurdwaras to make money” when asked if it influencing the SFJ and Pannun as claimed by Indian media. Gurdwaras and Khalistan protests generate revenue. Lord Ranger remarked, “They funded by India’s enemies.”
Pannun’s lawyers said this tweet meant Pakistan and India’s opponents supported the SFJ leader.
Lord Ranger’s accusations hurt and embarrassed the plaintiffs’ lawyers. Lord Ranger refused to apologize and clean the record before litigation.
