Sangrur MP Simranjit Singh Mann on Monday after taking in New Delhi reiterated his demand for a separate country for Sikhs.
The Shirmoni Akhali Dal President met the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in his chamber and took oath at the Speaker’s office. Mann had resigned as an MP in 1990 for being denied entry with his kirpan, but on Monday he agreed to leave it outside after he was stopped from carrying it.
Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament house, Mann said he continues to support the issue of Khalistan. “There should be a separate country for Sikhs. And Khalistan would act as a buffer State between two nuclear nations–India and Pakistan,” he said.
When asked why he is talking about a separate Sikh country while also pledging to protect the integrity of India, he said, “You are trying to corner me over this, but what would you say about what is happening in the Ladakh region? What is China doing there?”
Speaking to The Kashmiriyat, Prof Mohinder pal Singh, who is a close aide of Simranjit Singh Mann said, “There is nothing new in this. We have been demanding Khalistan for a long time. Our means and ways to achieve the same will be democratic and peaceful. We will not use violent means to achieve our dream of Khalistan.”