The Grade 11 students wore black T-shirts with Khalistanwritten on the front. Khalistanis the name of an imaginary Sikh homeland which the Sikh separatists wish to achieve through violent and other means.

While the separatist propaganda continues in the Sikh temples controlled by the religious fundamentalists, it is probably the first time that public school students tried to make such a daring political comment. The incident follows the controversial Surrey Vaisakhi parade, whose organizers glorify militancy. This year, they were forced not to display the pictures of some of the Sikh militants during the parade.

The angry students themselves called the media to register their protest and oppose the action of the school authorities. However, the Surrey Board of Education chair Reni Masi condemned the action of the students. He was quoted as saying by a local newspaper that it’s unfortunate the T-shirts were worn at school, as they could be seen to condone violence.

Surrey is home for not only the Sikhs, but other visible minorities and immigrant groups as well. Obviously, not all of them support Khalistan. As against the Sikh fundamentalists, the moderates are largely nationalists and pro united India.

The students who go to Canadian schools come from different ethnic groups. The countries of their parents’ origin may have different problems. They may be from the war torn Iraq, Afghanistan or the Israel and Palestine. They cannot and should not be allowed to bring the conflicts of these places in the classrooms as this might endanger the peace and the multicultural social fabric of Canada.

Such debates should be held outside schools where the students of impressionable age group go. The real place for such debates is the universities and they should be allowed at purely academic level.

The action of the school authorities should be welcomed. Rather, the school authorities should find out instigators of this incident, as the number of the teens involved suggests this could be pre planned to send a message.