Canada – A substantial turnout of over two hundred thousand individuals participated in two unauthorized Khalistan referendums in Canada, further heightening the strained relations with India, according to reports.
As detailed by the Vancouver Sun, the voting transpired in Surrey, marking the second referendum at Surrey Gurdwara, where Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan leader, met a tragic demise through a fatal shooting earlier in June.
Simultaneously, the U.S.-based organization “Sikhs For Justice” conducted the second phase of voting in British Columbia, advocating for an unofficial referendum with the objective of establishing an autonomous Sikh state, as reported by CBC news.
During this latest round of voting, an estimated 65,000 participants convened in Surrey to register their ballots, in response to the prevailing demand for Khalistan, as per media reports.
The inaugural Khalistan referendum was initiated on September 10 in British Columbia but remained incomplete, with plans in motion for further voting on the Khalistan referendum in 2024, including locales such as Abbotsford, Edmonton, Calgary, and Montreal, as disclosed by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a co-organizer of the referendum.
India and Canada found themselves at a diplomatic impasse last month when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau insinuated potential Indian official involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.
India vehemently refuted these allegations as “absurd and driven by ulterior motives.” India also called on Canada to take resolute action against terrorists and anti-India elements operating within its borders, temporarily suspending visa services for Canadians.
However, India recently resumed several visa services within Canada, interpreting it as a positive development following a period of heightened anxiety for many Canadian nationals.
In particular, visa services for entry, business, medical, and conference purposes were reinstated on October 26. This restoration came after Canada disclosed its decision to recall 41 out of 62 diplomats stationed in India, citing a New Delhi warning that it could revoke their diplomatic immunity, an action viewed as a violation of the Geneva Convention by Canadian authorities.
It is worth noting that a substantial segment of Canada’s population, around 2 million individuals or roughly 5%, claim Indian heritage, further underscoring the significance of this diplomatic relationship. Moreover, India represents Canada’s largest source of foreign students, accounting for approximately 40% of the total intake.
