Over 37,000 Sikhs exercised their right to vote in the Khalistan Referendum held in Auckland’s Aotea Square, advocating for the creation of an independent Sikh state of Khalistan within India. The referendum was organized by the independent Punjab Referendum Commission (PRC). Dr. Bakhshish Singh Sandhu, President of the Council of Khalistan and founding member of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), confirmed the voter turnout surpassed 37,000. Due to the overwhelming participation, organizers extended the voting period by an hour as thousands flocked to cast their votes.
In his address to the gathered supporters, Dr. Bakhshish Singh Sandhu stated, “The Indian government had lobbied against the voting and requested New Zealand to prevent Sikhs from participating, but local authorities reaffirmed New Zealand’s commitment to freedom of expression by approving the referendum. The mass turnout and the chants for Khalistan have demonstrated the deep-rooted desire for an independent state among Sikhs, highlighting their accusations against the Indian government of perpetrating Sikh genocide and transnational oppression.”
Indian Government’s Concerns Raised Internationally
Following the announcement of the Khalistan Referendum in New Zealand, Indian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar raised concerns during his meeting with New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters on November 6, on the sidelines of the Raisina Down Under conference in Canberra. Despite these diplomatic efforts, the referendum proceeded without obstruction, showcasing New Zealand’s stance on protecting democratic expressions.
At the conclusion of the event, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, SFJ Counsel General, asserted that the peaceful voting process had unsettled the Indian state, accusing it of using “terrorist means” to intimidate Sikhs. He declared, “No other option is acceptable to Sikhs other than liberation from India. It’s either freedom or martyrdom.”
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Pannun further made an announcement offering a $1 million reward for intelligence on Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s foreign visits, blaming him for authorizing a “terror campaign” against Sikhs. He emphasized that Sikhs are committed to confronting Hindutva’s ideology and outlined that their campaign commenced from Ayodhya, which he labeled as the origin of violent Hindutva.
Khalistan Movement’s Commitment to Non-Violence Despite Historical Grievances
Pannun remarked on the resolve of the Sikh community to pursue their goal through democratic means. He referenced the assassination of Indira Gandhi as historical proof of the Sikh community’s capacity for retaliation but clarified that their present fight was through non-violent, democratic methods. “The principle is blood for blood and bullets for bullets, but today we fight India’s bullets with ballots. This is our message to Amit Shah and Narendra Modi: we bring political defeat upon you with the power of the vote. We will hold every Indian leader accountable through legal means and deliver justice,” Pannun stated.
Concluding the event, Pannun announced that the next phase of the Khalistan Referendum will take place in Los Angeles, United States. He concluded his speech with chants of “Delhi banay ga Khalistan. Na Hindi, Na Hindutva, Na Hindustan, Delhi banay ga Khalistan. Khalistan Zindabad.”
This article was received directly from the reporter.