Khalistan Referendum in Calgary (Canada) – 28 July 2024

Thousands of Sikhs gathered at Calgary’s Municipal Plaza on 28 July 2024 for the Khalistan Referendum. The event, held opposite the local United States diplomatic mission, saw an overwhelming turnout.

The Indian Government is in disarray due to the successful referendum held in Canada, with almost all Sikh diaspora voting for a separate Khalistan. This follows similar successful referendums in Italy, the UK, the USA, and Australia since October 2021.

These events have strengthened the movement led by the Canadian-based Sikh organization, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). SFJ leaders see the Khalistan Referendum as a significant blow to Indian hegemony inspired by Hindutva ideology.

Organized by SFJ, the voting event aimed to gauge the opinion of Sikhs in Alberta on creating an independent Sikh state. With around one million Sikhs in Canada and nearly 100,000 in Calgary, the event had a significant turnout.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s family was the first to cast their votes, surrounded by prominent Khalistan figures. SFJ leaders dedicated the voting to nine Canadian Sikhs allegedly assassinated by India for supporting Khalistan.

The voting process was overseen by the Punjab Referendum Commission (PRC) to ensure transparency. The PRC handled everything from registration to ballot box supervision and sealing at the end of the voting day.

The referendum posed the question, “Should Indian Governed Punjab Be An Independent Country?” with options for “Yes” or “No.” Dr. Bakhshish Singh Sandhu, President of the Council of Khalistan, emphasized the referendum’s significance.

Dr. Sandhu linked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s threats against Sikhs to transnational terrorism and oppression. He criticized Modi’s campaign to assassinate Sikhs in Western countries and called for global sanctions against India.

Despite Indian pressure, both the Canadian and US governments remained committed to democratic principles. Dr. Sandhu discussed India’s efforts to coerce Western countries into canceling Khalistan Referendum events and pressing terror charges against Sikhs.

He emphasized that the democratic principles of the UK, US, and Canada protected Sikhs’ rights to participate in the referendum. He condemned India’s attempts to label Sikhs as terrorists, noting that such accusations held no weight internationally.

Despite objections from the Indian government, Calgary’s Mayor Jyoti Gondek affirmed that the city council could not prevent the Khalistan Referendum voting. She viewed the event as a legitimate democratic exercise.

The Sikh diaspora has demanded trials and reparations for those involved in Operation Blue Star, where about 30,000 Sikhs were killed by Hindu extremists. Despite Modi Regime’s requests to brand the referendum a threat, the Canadian Government maintained its principled stance.

Indian media, attempting to question the referendum’s legitimacy and assuage Sikh sentiments, claimed that SFJ invited and facilitated its sympathizers from other countries to vote in Calgary. These claims were widely dismissed.