Thousands of Sikhs queued at Calgary’s iconic Municipal Plaza – opposite the local United States diplomatic mission – to take part in the Khalistan Referendum voting for the creation of an independent state of Khalistan for the Sikh nation.
Organized by the pro-Khalistan Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) group, the voting has been organized in Calgary to seek the opinion of Sikhs in Canada’s Alberta province on the creation of an independent state for Sikhs. An estimated one million Sikhs now live in Canada, and nearly 100,000 live in Calgary.
Significant Participation and Dedication
Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s family was the first to cast their votes, surrounded by prominent Khalistan figures. The SFJ leader announced that Calgary voting is dedicated to the nine Canadian national Sikhs assassinated by India for their support of Khalistan.
Those Canadian Sikhs are: Shaheed Lakhbir Singh Rode, Shaheed Bhupinder Singh Kooner, Shaheed Harjinder Singh Para, Shaheed Talwinder Singh Parmar, Shaheed Surinder Singh Shinder Commando, Shaheed Balbir Singh Khaira, Shaheed Jathedar Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Shaheed Mohinder Singh Kooner, and Shaheed Surinder Singh Ravi.
Start of Voting Process
At the start of the voting with Sikh prayers led by the local Sikh religious figures from Gurdawara Dashmesh Culture Centre, thousands formed long queues to cast their votes for the process that will last for the full day. Men, women, youth, children, and the elderly have gathered in the town from across the province to cast their votes for the non-binding referendum, which is aimed at seeking the opinion of Sikhs from around the world before presenting the final results to the United Nations.
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Sikhs who gathered outside the city hall were carrying flags of Khalistan. The road outside has been decorated with large posters of Sikhs who embraced martyrdom for the Sikh cause – and are revered by the Sikhs across the world.
Message from Khalistan Leaders
Veteran Khalistani leader and President of the Council of Khalistan Dr. Bakhshish Singh Sandhu said at the start of the voting that Sikhs in Calgary will set a new record by exercising their democratic right for Khalistan and to send a message to the world that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign to assassinate Sikhs in Western countries is unacceptable as its transnational terrorism and oppression, which warrants global sanctions against the state of India.
All the phases of voting in the Khalistan Referendum are being held under the guidance and supervision of a panel of non-aligned direct democracy experts from the Punjab Referendum Commission (PRC). The whole voting process, from registration to supervision of ballot boxes and sealing of the ballots at the end of the voting day, is conducted by the Commission’s approved third-party staff to maintain the highest level of transparency. The PRC is conducting the voting on the question of “Should Indian Governed Punjab Be An Independent Country?” with two options of “Yes” and “No.”
The Mayor of Calgary has said that the city council cannot stop Khalistan Referendum voting from going ahead on Sunday, July 28, after objections by the Indian government that the group organizing it is banned in India and therefore shouldn’t get permission to go ahead with the gathering that is set to attract thousands of pro-Khalistan Sikhs.
In an interview, Mayor Jyoti Gondek said she doesn’t see the Khalistan voting as an issue, as those involved are carrying out a legitimate, democratic exercise and it’s not for her office to sanction lawful events. She said: “The public is able to gather at the Municipal Plaza at any time. They can do what they wish to.”
Global Khalistan Referendum Campaign
The Khalistan Referendum voting campaign is being organized under the supervision of the independent Punjab Referendum Commission (PRC), which will announce the results when all phases are completed. The voting started on October 31, 2021, in London, UK, and has so far been held in several countries and cities across the UK; Geneva, Switzerland; Rome and Milan (Italy); Australian cities of Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney; the American cities of San Francisco and Sacramento; Canadian cities of Brampton, Mississauga, Malton (Ontario), Surrey, Vancouver (British Columbia), and now Calgary.
This article was received directly from the reporter.