What is the Khalistan Referendum?

A large number of people cast their vote in favour of Khalistan in Canada. It is said that the results of the Referendum will tell the world that the Sikh people want complete freedom from India.

On other hand, the Canadian government has refused to stop Canadian Sikhs from expressing their views by holding the Khalistan Referendum and linking it with a peaceful process.

Khalistan Referendum

Khalistan Referendum is a community-sponsored election of the international advocacy group, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). It is a referendum campaign in which Sikhs are asked to answer the question ‘Should Indian Governed Punjab Be An Independent Country?’

Since the launch of voting on October 31, 2021, from London, despite India’s protests, the governments of the UK, Switzerland, and Italy have allowed the Khalistan Referendum to take place in which 400,000+ Sikhs have so far voted.

Votes

More than 110,000 Canadian Sikhs took part in voting for the Khalistan Referendum in Brampton, Ontario, to demand an independent state of Khalistan with Shimla as its capital.

Pro or anti-India?

Just as it happened in the UK, Khalistan Referendum activities in Canada have similarly irked the pro-India factions in Canada who, following the Indian government’s stance, are labeling the secessionist Referendum as anti-India terrorism and wish a ban on Sikh secessionist activities from Canadian soil.

Protest of India

Earlier this week, the Indian authorities launched a strong protest with the Canadian govt after BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto was vandalised with anti-Indian and pro-Khalistan slogans written at the entrance ahead of the 18 September Khalistan Referendum voting which is set to attract tens of thousands of Sikhs.

The Indian government has condemned the vandalism at the Mandir, calling on the Canadian Prime Minister to take action against the suspected Khalistani activists.

vandalism incident

The vandalism incident comes after the local police announced it has arrested an Indo-Canadian man for tearing Sikh leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale’s banner in the city of Caledon, Ontario, ahead of the 18 September Khalistan Referendum. In response to the attack, over 500 Sikhs protested outside the Indian consulate in Toronto alleging that the Indian govt was behind the attack on the posters of nationalist Sikh leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale who is regarded as a martyr, saint, and icon of the Khalistan movement.