TORONTO: Yet another attempt is being made by separatists whose mischievous intentions have failed time and again to create unnecessary unrest and tensions among the Indo-Canadians in general and the Sikh community in particular by calling for a Khalistan referendum which is being held in Brampton, Ontario, Canada on September 18th.

And by allowing the same to be held in Gore Meadows Community Centre, a government-run community center, parts of the Canadian government are showing that they have their priorities misplaced and feel that a section of the vocal, fringe Sikh community represents the views of the majority Indian diaspora.

In an unprecedented show of power, more than 110,000 Canadian Sikhs took part in voting for the Khalistan Referendum in Brampton, Ontario, to demand an independent state of Khalistan with Shimla as its capital.

Organized by the pro-Khalistani advocacy group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), the voting started with a special prayer led by a religious leader Bhai Daljit Singh Sekhon, a close associate of Bhai Harjinder Singh Parha in whose name the voting center was dedicated. Thousands were returned unable to vote at the close of the day at 5 pm while queues stretched to several kilometers at the end of the day.

The first vote was cast at 9 am but thousands of Canadian Sikhs had lined up since 7 am to cast their votes. A large number of women and elderly stood in long queues to cast their vote in favor of Khalistan.

By noon, the queue had stretched to around five kilometers from the Gore Meadow Community Centre Brampton to the nearest highway. There was so much traffic pressure coming towards the voting center that the Ontario police blocked the highway for all kinds of traffic, for three hours, to prevent more Sikhs from attempting to reach the venue in their cars.

By the afternoon, there was a sea of people around the center carrying flags of Khalistan, chanting slogans demanding the creation of Khalistan, calling on India to end human rights violations of Sikhs, and asking the international community to listen to the demands of millions of Sikhs in Indian Punjab and around the world. The observers confirmed that thousands had been returned at the close of voting while queues still stretched to over two kilometers.

Organizers at the Sikhs for Justice as well local observers estimated the total number of participants to be comfortably over 110,000. Deann Allison, Canada’s Member of Parliament for Niagra West for the Conservative party, said in a tweet at mid-day: “Amazing turnout at Gore Meadows community center in Brampton where the Sikh Nation is voting for their right to self-determination. Over 50,000 votes and lines are still growing.”

The SFJ said attendance in Ontario for Khalistan voting had broken all previous records of voting in London, where over 30,000 Sikhs had taken part; Italy, where the number was just below London; Geneva where the presence was under 10,000 and UK’s cities of Slough, Birmingham, Leicester and Manchester where the numbers were significant.

The SFJ welcomed the turnout in huge numbers. Its Counsel General Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said the Sikhs have shown in Canada that they will not accept anything less than an independent Khalistan with Shimla as capital of the free Punjab. “Today, Canadians voted in the independence referendum to reclaim Shimla as the capital once Punjab is liberated from the Indian occupation. The voting in Punjab for the Khalistan Referendum will start from January 26, 2023, coinciding with India’s 74th Republic Day.”

There were more than 300 Sikh volunteers manning the community centre reserved for voting. Most of those volunteering were Canadian born Sikh youth who have shown strong connection with the Khalistan movement, initiated by their parents who were most born and raised in India.

Canada is now home to around a million Sikhs who strongly associate themselves with the Khalistani movement – an issue that has troubled the Indian govt for many years and has caused diplomatic rifts between India and Canada.

Earlier, the Canadian government refused to stop the SFJ from organising the unofficial balloting for the Khalistan Referendum. Canada’s position on the Khalistan Referendum is backed by its own laws as well as the United Nations laws that all people have a right to self-determination and freedom of speech and expression in a peaceful manner.

Participants of the referendum, on the occasion, said that the Indian Punjab will soon emerge as an independent country on the map of the world. They said that India cannot deprive the Sikh people from their right to independence at gunpoint.

The Khalistan Referendum voting campaign is being organised under the supervision of the independent Punjab Referendum Commission (PRC), which will announce the results when all phases are completed.

Say no to Khalistan referendum

The political and social unrest in Punjab has been ended more than three decades back and strong democratic governments have been taking care of Punjab for far too long. Yes there was unrest in the eighties and yes a large section of the Indo-Canadian Sikh diaspora which migrated from India during those years may still remember the deep pain and anguish of those times. Yet they need to understand that wounds heal and while they may leave scars behind, positivity is always about not allowing your past control your present or future. It is evident that Punjab turned a new chapter decades back, its people have voted in and out successive governments by exercising their electoral franchise and have always chosen their destiny themselves. 

There is no interest in the locals of Punjab for the idea of Khalistan then why people who do not even live there need to hold such a referendum without any support from the locals? And what would be the validity of such a referendum than just giving credence and importance of a group of separatists who wish to establish a stronghold over the North American Sikh community by creating a false façade of a dream land.

Punjab and Punjabi culture has been a part of India not just now but for centuries. Also Punjab is not just a land of Sikhs and while Sikhism emerged out of Punjab, Punjabis comprise of an equal number of people of other religions and faiths. There are extremely strong bonds between Sikhs and all other communities including Hindus and interfaith marriages between Sikhs and Hindus leading to strong family bonds is considered a norm and not an aberration.

The fact is that any such thoughts about Khalistan are abhorred by the Punjabis and when during the current farmers’ struggle, the right wing fringe in India and media tried to create an image of the locals as Khalistanis, the same was detested by almost all the Sikhs of Punjab and most Indians. 

It is also deeply disturbing that Gurudwaras, the places of worship used by all, Sikhs and Hindus alike who believe in the teachings of the Gurus, is being allowed to be used to propel such a referendum. With flyers being distributed from there, banners and huge hoardings being put up there to showcase support for such a referendum, it is being portrayed that the support exists for such a referendum from a large section of the community and the religious leaders. 

Tension builds up in Canada’s Brampton as people oppose referendum by Khalistanis

The move is being staunchly opposed by pro-India Canadians led by Azad Singh Goyat, an established community advocate and a politician.

Goyat has objected to the use of the public property by Khalistanis who are putting up posters and fixing signboards to publicize the referendum date and venue.

“Illegal signs mushrooming on public property in Brampton need to be removed by the administration and the police. Why is the community leadership sleeping? Why is it not asking the government to curb the illegal actions of a handful of people?” says Goyat in a post on his Facebook page.

Goyat has issued an ultimatum to the administration and the police to remove the referendum campaign material from public properties by August 29, or else he will launch a people’s direct action movement to remove these illegal signs.

However, Harjinder Singh Pahra, a Khalistani engaged in referendum activities, says that people like Goyat are trying to create confrontation in the community. “We are peacefully doing what we want to do. There is massive support coming for the referendum. No one will be forced to vote on September 18,” he claims.

J P Pandher, a Punjabi journalist working for popular Omni TV says that the administration and the police can only act if there was a breach of peace from any of the two sides.

He agrees that Khalistanis can not legally use public property to publicize the referendum. They can only use private properties to paste and fix posters and signboards after taking the written consent of the proprietors.

It is common knowledge that the management of almost all Gurdwaras has slowly come under the control of radicals who with their muscle power win elections to form management committees. The Gurdwaras are then used to propagate anti-India views. The silent majority of the Sikhs find themselves helpless before armed Khalistanis who even indulge in violence against peaceful people opposed to them.

The SFJ had earlier conducted a “referendum” in some cities in the US and the UK. As expected the results declared by it show the majority favoring the creation of Khalistan. The purpose of the referendum is to collect data of voters supporting the creation of Khalistan and present it to the United Nations seeking its intervention.

thenews.com.pk