OTTAWA: Canada has approved the holding of the Khalistan Referendum on 23 November, allowing the Sikh community to conduct a non-binding global vote on whether Indian Punjab should become an independent state separate from India.
The US-based global Sikh advocacy group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has strongly welcomed the Canadian government’s approval.
The referendum will be held at Ottawa’s historic Billings Estate National Historic Site, where preparations are already in progress.
Representing a global community of some 30 million people, Sikh groups continue the Khalistan campaign as a non-violent political struggle rooted in democratic principles.
The Khalistan Referendum seeks to gauge the support of Sikhs worldwide for an independent Khalistan, and the results will be presented to the United Nations.
The referendum process, which began on October 31, 2021, in London, has been conducted in various cities around the world, including San Francisco, Melbourne, and Vancouver.
Organisers say that thousands of Sikhs from the United States, Europe, and other regions have started arriving in Canada to take part in what is being described as a significant political event for the Sikh community.
In a video statement, SFJ’s General Counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun praised the Canadian government’s approval, describing it as an endorsement of the Sikh community’s democratic and peaceful right to express political opinion.
He stressed that the November 23 referendum marks a crucial stage in the Sikh nation’s struggle for the right to self-determination.
“The Khalistan Referendum is a peaceful and entirely legal democratic process,” Pannun stated.
“Granting the Billings Estate, a national historic site, reflects the Canadian government’s trust in the Sikh community’s commitment to democratic conduct.”
“We urge Sikh voters to come to Billings Estate on November 23 and cast their votes peacefully and responsibly.”
“The referendum is a legal and democratic step toward the freedom of Indian Punjab.”
He added that the global Sikh community will continue to express its political views through democratic channels, and on November 24, Sikh voters worldwide will reaffirm their political aspirations at the ballot box.
The approval of the Khalistan Referendum in Canada is being seen as a landmark moment for Sikh political activism, underscoring Canada’s long-standing commitment to freedom of expression and democratic rights.
