On December 10, Taiwo Owatemi, Labour MP for Coventry North West, had tweeted in help of Sikhs for Justice, a secessionist organisation demanding Khalistan, a individual state for Sikhs. She explained, “I stand with #SikhsForJustice and the Sikh community’s correct to self-determination on #UNDayOfHumanRights. This is the clearest way that the conflict amongst Sikhs and the Indian authorities can be resolved.” The tweet was in favour of a independent country for Sikhs. Afterwards, she deleted the tweet just after sharp criticism.
Reaction on her tweet supporting SFJ
The Labour MP gained sharp criticism for her tweet throughout the system. Although some netizens identified as her ignorant, other individuals prompt that she is endorsing separatism.
British Labour MP @TaiwoOwatemi deletes tweet supporting secession of Punjab from India. She suggests that a employees member portion of her social media staff posted the tweet with no her awareness. Did the staff member not verify that SFJ is banned in India?https://t.co/AjwEzDwER3
— Aveek Sen (@aveeksen) December 12, 2020
British MPs advertising spiritual separatism in the colonies… https://t.co/ufNLo0M39g
— omar ali (@omarali50) December 11, 2020
Shocker. Sitting down Labour MP supports banned “Sikh for Justice” group that is calling for Khalistan. https://t.co/npxW2aafwn
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) December 12, 2020
So in this article is a labour MP from Uk advocating spiritual separatism. Even although this demonstrates her deficiency of comprehension on issues relevant to India, but also demonstrates the hatred of Labour Celebration in United kingdom in direction of India. https://t.co/ps597SjgqC
— Binu Nair (@binunair_66) December 12, 2020
#BritishIndians #BritishSikhs demand apology from @TaiwoOwatemi MP from #Coventry North West for supporting #SikhsForJustice – Organisation which is banned in India ??. @Keir_Starmer must we just take your silence as Of course & Endorsement for #AntiIndja agenda in #LabourParty ?? https://t.co/vAk4AJJABa
— British Indians Voice ???? (@BritIndianVoice) December 11, 2020
Owatemi says her employees member posted the tweet
After deleting the tweet, Owatemi wrote on Twitter that her personnel member who manages her social media account posted it with no her know-how. She claimed, “A compact selection of persons emailed me to submit a recommended tweet supporting Sikhs for Justice. Unbeknown to me a staff members member who will help to operate my social media posted the tweet. This has now been deleted. I sincerely apologise for any offence triggered to any of my constituents.”
A compact quantity of people emailed me to write-up a prompt tweet supporting Sikhs for Justice. Unbeknown to me a workers member who will help to run my social media posted the tweet. This has now been deleted. I sincerely apologise for any offence induced to any of my constituents.
— Taiwo Owatemi MP (@TaiwoOwatemi) December 12, 2020
Sikhs for Justice considered as a terrorist corporation by India
Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) was banned by the Indian authorities on July 10, 2019, underneath the Illegal Functions (Prevention) Act for anti-India activities on July 10, 2019. India had declared the founder of Sikhs for Justice, Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, a terrorist in July 2020. In the same month, 40 sites of SFJ were being blocked by the Indian authorities. SFJ has been attempting to lure Punjab’s youth for Referendum 2020 and produce unrest in the location. Pannu experienced a short while ago produced a video in which he reported that SFJ would give cash to farmers who are taking part in the ongoing protests in Delhi.