Mumbai: Imagine the irony: people devoted to breaking up India are now livid because the country won’t let them in. Yes, dear readers, the same Khalistani supporters who’ve made a profession out of demonizing India are now bemoaning their visa denials to attend weddings and festivals in the very nation they denounce.
Canadian media outlet Global News has thrown its hands up in theatrical despair, reporting that India is asking pro-Khalistani Canadians to denounce terrorism and declare allegiance to the idea of a united India before granting them visas. It’s a bit like demanding a “no arson” pledge from someone trying to buy matches—logical, yet deeply upsetting to a firestarter. Among the teary-eyed complainants is Bikramjit Singh Sandhar, once the president of the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Surrey—a place known more for Khalistani posters than langar meals. Sandhar recounted how the Indian consulate had the audacity to send him a letter asking him to renounce Khalistan and respect India’s sovereignty.
“How dare they!” he implied, as though his political agenda should take a backseat when it’s time for some good old Punjabi hospitality back home. Let’s not miss the bigger picture: these are individuals whose platforms often glorify terrorism and advocate for India’s fragmentation. Yet, when India asks for a form disavowing these exact stances, they cry "foreign interference."
The hypocrisy is as staggering as Justin Trudeau’s insistence that his intelligence is credible. Political commentator Daniel Bordman nailed the absurdity on X, remarking, “Can you believe India is making people denounce mass murder before letting them in? What monsters!” The sarcasm practically dripped off his words, much like Global News’ thinly veiled bias. For India, the message is crystal clear: if you want the privilege of visiting, first drop your Khalistani fervour.
This policy isn’t just about visas; it’s a bold declaration that India values its sovereignty over playing host to separatists. To the Khalistanis now shouting “oppression,” the takeaway is simple—pick a side. If you love the idea of Khalistan, enjoy it from afar. But if you want to visit Punjab’s golden fields, maybe, just maybe, consider embracing the India that nurtures them. Or, as some might say, “Don’t bite the hand that feeds…or stamps your visa.”