New Delhi: Ahead of Kartarpur Corridor opening on Saturday, the US-based radical group, Sikhs for Justice learned to be backed by Pakistan has adopted a new platform on Google Play Store to propagate its separatist Khalistan agenda.
Named as '2020 Sikh Referendum', a 7.54 MB mobile App offered by Romania-based ICETECH web designing solution firm pushes for voter registration for the Referendum-2020 agenda seeking the support of people belonging to Punjab.
During the downloading process, the version 3.001 App requests access to the camera, location, storage contents of SD card, and control over network access, network connection, and Wi-Fi connections, raising major concern to the security of mobile users based in India or abroad.
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The App mentions that updates to the 2020 Sikh Referendum may automatically add additional capabilities within each group. It is built for Android 6.0 version and other recent versions.
As the download begins, the App shows it is for Punjab Referendum 2020 for Khalistan requesting people to join the 'Team 2020 for Punjab Independence Referendum'.
In the first step during the downloading process, the App gives the option to choose the country mentioned on its page for selecting 'Team 2020'. In the second step, it directs to fill name, email address, country name, WhatsApp number and other details of the mobile user downloading the App.
Released on February 14 this year, the App which shows 1.0 rating on Google Play Store faced criticism in its review comments with people raising concerns as to why it needs all the access.
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"All the required accesses are unnecessary and unsafe here. The modify and delete USB storage have full network access," commented Sneha Gupta, an App visitor.
Another unknown visitor commented, "Obviously, it's a cheap App made by some Pakistani to spread hatred in India in the name of religion. If anyone wants proof, then look at the service provider's name in the screenshots. JazzlMobi Link is a Pakistan-based mobile network service provider. How does Google allow such radicalization on its platforms?".
Similar opinions are shared on the review platform of the App.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to inaugurate the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur on Saturday, the Referendum-2020 agenda to boost Khalistan movement in India and the state bordering Pakistan has alerted intelligence agencies.
The Kartarpur corridor to be opened on November 9 will connect the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Punjab with Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, just 4km from the international border located in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab province.
An alert regarding the issue has been circulated by intelligence agencies with a message that "Khalistani extremists are misusing the new route to destabilize the region and spread their propaganda".
The agencies have warned that Sikh fundamentalist organizations such as Sikhs For Justice plan to use the Kartarpur Corridor to further their secessionist agenda. The SFJ is being supported by Pakistan-based handlers to provide money and logistical support to local terrorists in Punjab to carry out subversive activities.
India has also raised the alarm that several gurdwaras in Pakistan are still being used to promote the pro-Khalistan campaign and that they have shared inputs regarding pamphlets being distributed at some gurdwaras in Pakistan that talked about 'Sikh Referendum 2020'.
The SFJ is headed by Avtar Singh Pannun and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun who have started advocating a separate 'Khalistan' state as well as an online secessionist campaign, the 'Sikh Referendum 2020'.
The Punjab police have registered 10 cases against the SFJ and its members while the National Investigation Agency is also probing the group in one case.
India also found that Pakistan is making all attempts to revive and activate other banned organizations such as Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) and International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF).
Several Pakistan-based terrorist groups are engaged in smuggling weapons into India since August 5 post Article 370 abrogation in Jammu and Kashmir.
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