The first Khalistan Referendum, organized by the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice, will take place at a municipal plaza in Calgary, Alberta, due to authorities’ inability to control the use of public space. This event has already sparked controversy, with India raising concerns to Global Affairs Canada about the use of government property for separatist activities. The plaza already features controversial figures like Talwinder Singh Parmar and Hardeep Singh Nijjar, adding to the controversy surrounding the event.
Calgary’s Indo-Canadian Mayor Jyoti Gondek stated that while the city does not sanction or approve of the referendum, they cannot control or police public gatherings in the plaza. The event has historical significance, as the referendum aims to push for Khalistan, a separate Sikh state, and has been linked to past terrorist acts like the Air India flight 182 bombing in 1985.
India’s High Commission in Ottawa has protested the use of public property for this separatist event, highlighting previous cancellations of government facilities for similar events. The Khalistan Referendum has raised tensions between India and Canada, especially after allegations of Indian agents’ involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the SFJ’s organizer in British Columbia.
Despite concerns from authorities and protests from India, the referendum will proceed on Sunday in Calgary, marking a significant moment in the ongoing debate over Sikh separatism in Canada.
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