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Australia Envoy Affirms Territorial Integrity of India Amid Khalistani Protests

Australian High Commissioner Philip Green affirmed his country's respect for India's territorial integrity. He stated Australia takes Indian concerns about Khalistani elements seriously. Green clarified that while peaceful protests are permitted, criminal activities will not be tolerated. He described recent deportations of Indians from Australia as isolated incidents.

Key Points: Australia Envoy on Khalistani Protests: No Truck with Irredentism

  • Australia respects India's territorial integrity
  • Peaceful protests allowed, criminal activity not
  • Khalistani referendum held in Sydney in June 2023
  • Isolated deportations of Indians from Australia
2 min read

"We believe in India's territorial integrity," says Australian envoy on Khalistani protests

Australian High Commissioner Philip Green says Australia respects India's territorial integrity, allows peaceful protests but not criminal activity, amid Khalistani referendum tensions.

"We have no truck with irredentist elements. - Philip Green"

New Delhi, May 2

High Commissioner of Australia to India, Philip Green, said that his country takes Indian interests seriously and have taken note of its concerns regarding Khalistanis in their country.

Green, in a conversation with ANI, said that Australia respects the territorial integrity of India as it is.

"We have certainly taken note. Our multicultural, intelligence, police, and foreign policy authorities meet frequently and engage on this. We take Indian interests seriously. Let me be very clear: Australia believes in the territorial integrity of India as it is. We have no truck with irredentist elements," he said.

Green told ANI that Australia allows peaceful protest, but will not allow any criminal activity.

"However, I would say that one of the elements of our democracy is the right to peaceful protest. People are entitled to hold and make known their views and demonstrate peacefully within the law. That will continue to be allowed, but what won't be allowed is any criminal activity," he said.

On June 10, 2023, Australia's Sikh and Hindu communities flared as a contentious vote was designed to build political support for an independent Sikh state in India, as per ABC News.

Some Sikh community members gathered at a construction site in Minchinbury in Sydney's western suburbs on Sunday to hold the latest "referendum" in favour of establishing a new state called Khalistan in India's Punjab region, as per the report.

When asked about recent deportations of Indians from Australia, Green said that these were isolated cases, as over 4,50,000 Indians visited the country last year.

"These are isolated cases. There were 450,000 Indians who went to Australia for tourism last year and another 50,000 who went as students. What you're talking about is a handful of people. We have a visa system that requires people to depart Australia at the end of their visa, and we will always stick by that," he said.

Punjab Government delegation on April 30 received Indian Nationals deported from Australia at Delhi airport. As per Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, 15 Indians are being deported from Australia. Eleven of them were Punjabi. One of them is a woman, and ten are boys.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As a Sikh myself, I appreciate the Australian envoy's stance. However, the Khalistani movement is a fringe issue - most of us are proud Indians first. The real concern should be about the deportations - 15 people sent back over visa issues seems harsh.
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Priya S
'No truck with irredentist elements' - that's diplomatic language for 'we won't support your nonsense' 😄 But seriously, until actual legal action is taken against those organizing these referendums, it's just words. We need to see Australia walk the talk.
V
Vikram M
The envoy's statement is welcome, but let's be honest - 450,000 tourists and only 15 deportations? That's a fraction of a percent. The real issue is why our youth feel the need to overstay visas. Economic opportunities at home would solve this problem permanently.
J
James A
As an Australian who's lived in India, I find the Khalistani protests embarrassing. Australia is a multicultural success story - we shouldn't allow extremists to exploit our freedoms. Most of us support India's unity. 🇮🇳🇦🇺
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Rohit P
Good to hear, but I'm skeptical. Western countries often say one thing and do another when it comes to India's internal matters. The proof will be in how they handle future Khalistani activities on their soil. Actions > words.
K

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