CALGARY: Thousands of Sikhs gathered at Calgary’s Municipal Plaza – opposite the local United States diplomatic mission – on Sunday to participate in a significant Khalistan Referendum, aimed at gauging support for the creation of an independent state of Khalistan for the Sikh nation.
The event, organized by the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), took place directly across from the United States diplomatic mission, highlighting the international dimension of the referendum.
The voting, which began early in the day and continued until evening, saw a huge turnout from the Sikh community in Alberta, which is home to nearly 100,000 Sikhs out of Canada’s approximately one million Sikh residents.
The family of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistan activist assassinated on June 28 2023 in Canada, was among the first to cast their votes. Nijjar was remembered as one of the nine Canadian Sikhs who were killed for their support of Khalistan, a list also including figures like Lakhbir Singh Rode and Talwinder Singh Parmar.
The Khalistan Referendum, a non-binding vote, 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.
At the voting site, the atmosphere was charged with Sikh pride and solidarity. The streets around the Municipal Plaza were adorned with Khalistan flags and posters commemorating Sikh martyrs who are revered by the community. Sikh religious leaders from Gurdwara Dashmesh Culture Centre led prayers at the beginning of the voting, setting a solemn tone for the day.
Dr. Bakhshish Singh Sandhu, a veteran Khalistani leader and President of the Council of Khalistan, praised the Calgary voters for their participation, describing the event as a significant message to the global community. Sandhu condemned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s alleged campaign against Sikhs abroad, labeling it as transnational terrorism and calling for international sanctions against India.
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The referendum was overseen by the independent Punjab Referendum Commission (PRC), which ensures transparency throughout the voting process. The PRC has employed non-aligned direct democracy experts to supervise the ballot process, including registration, ballot box management, and vote counting.
The question posed to voters was: “Should Indian-governed Punjab be an independent country?” with options for “Yes” or “No.” The results of the Calgary vote, along with those from previous locations, will be compiled and announced by the PRC once all phases of the referendum are completed.
The SFJ’s referendum campaign reflects ongoing tensions and aspirations within the Sikh diaspora, with voters expressing frustration over the political situation in Punjab and the treatment of Sikhs by the Indian government.
