Over 55,000 Canadian Sikhs voted in the Calgary Khalistan Referendum at the Municipal Plaza voting center, which is dedicated to nine pro-Khalistan Canadian Sikhs who were assassinated by the Indian army during armed conflict.
The first vote was cast by the family of Shaheed Dilawar Singh Babbar Jai, the individual responsible for the assassination of then-Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh in August 1995.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s family traveled from Surrey, British Columbia, to support the Calgary referendum.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a New York attorney and founder of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), addressed the enthusiastic crowd and vowed to “flood August 15 Independence Day with the Khalistan Referendum campaign from Red Fort to Ranchi.”
Pannun claimed that the SFJ has provided every Sikh household with a “powerful bomb” set to explode during Khalistan Referendum voting to achieve liberation for Punjab from Indian control.
He asked the crowd, “Will you destroy your enemy or dismantle the Indian system?” He criticized Indian Prime Minister Modi for using violence to prevent the Khalistan Referendum, asserting that the SFJ’s weapon is the vote while India’s approach is violence. Pannun emphasized that the SFJ is targeting the Indian system, which he accuses of Sikh genocide and Punjab’s economic destruction.
He recalled that in 1929, Shaheed Bhagat Singh had bombarded the Indian legislative assembly to free India from British rule.
Pannun stated that the Khalistan Referendum campaign has significantly impacted India, and he expects the Canadian government to prosecute Indian diplomats, including High Commissioner Sanjay Verma, for the planning and killing of Shaheed Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The Sikh community will continue to hold Verma accountable under Khalsa justice.
Following Pannun’s speech, the head of the Punjab Referendum Commission (PRC) announced that the next phase of the Khalistan Referendum would take place in New Zealand in a few months.
Thousands of Sikhs queued from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. at Calgary’s iconic Municipal Plaza to vote on the creation of an independent Khalistan for the Sikh nation.
The nine Canadian Sikhs assassinated by India for their political beliefs include: 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.
Outside the city hall, Sikhs displayed Khalistan flags and large posters honoring Sikh martyrs, who are revered worldwide. The banners featured images of Sikh heroes and paid tribute to their sacrifices.
Throughout the day, slogans such as “Khalistan Zindabad,” “Punjab banay ga Khalistan,” “Delhi banay ga Khalistan,” “Rajasthan banay ga Khalistan,” “Modi, stop terrorism against Sikhs,” and “India is a terrorist state” echoed through Calgary’s town hall.
Sikhs affirmed their commitment to the principles set by their Gurus and drew inspiration from Sikh freedom fighters, including Nijjar.
Dr. Bakhshish Singh Sandhu, President of the Council of Khalistan, noted the impressive turnout, with queues stretching nearly four kilometers, reflecting the Sikhs’ desire for freedom from India.
The Khalistan Referendum voting is conducted under the supervision of a panel of non-aligned direct democracy experts from the PRC. The process, from registration to ballot supervision and sealing, is managed by third-party staff to ensure transparency.
The PRC is conducting the referendum on the question: “Should Indian-governed Punjab be an independent country?” with “Yes” and “No” options.
The referendum began on October 31, 2021, in London, United Kingdom, and has since been held in various cities, including Geneva, Rome, Milan, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, San Francisco, Sacramento, Brampton, Mississauga, Malton, Surrey, Vancouver, and Calgary.
