VANCOUVER: Over 135,000 Canadian Sikhs cast their ballots in the referendum for the establishment of an independent and sovereign homeland, Khalistan, a demand of millions of their community members for which they have been struggling for decades.
Organized by the US-based Sikhs for Justice, the Khalistan Referendum’s voting campaign started in the United Kingdom (UK) in October 2021, and since then, voting have taken place in more than a dozen European capitals.
The voting procedure was managed by several hundred individuals employed by the independent Punjab Referendum Commission.
The previous record for the highest turnout was set 5 months ago in Brompton, Canada. However, the participation of more than 135,000 Sikhs in Surrey, BC, specifically at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, broke all prior records.
The voting took place at the Gurdwara, the site of the tragic assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Khalistan Referendum Canada President and a prominent Sikh activist. Nijjar was assassinated on 18 June 2023 by a group of unidentified individuals. Pro-Khalistan Sikh groups have alleged the involvement of the Indian regime in the murder of the Khalistani advocate.
Early in the morning, thousands of Sikh voters from the local community formed lines to participate in the balloting process.
Over 40,000 Individuals Miss Khalistan Referendum
The PRC concluded voting at 5 p.m., even though over 40,000 individuals were still waiting in line to cast their votes. Unfortunately, they could not cast their votes due to the stringent timing and international voting regulations.
Dane Waters, the head of the PRC, announced another voting phase on 29 October in Vancouver due to the considerable number of individuals unable to vote.
The voters carried posters featuring Sikh martyrs and voiced both political and devotional slogans in support of Khalistan. The Gurdwara itself was decorated with oversized posters of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who had served as the president of the same Gurdwara until his tragic assassination.
