Thousands in Surrey cast ballots on Sikh independence from India

Thousands of Sikhs lined up at Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara to cast a ballot on the call for an independent Sikh state known as Khalistan.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Jatinder Singh Grewal, director of international policy at Sikhs for Justice in a statement said, “There is a positive view of Khalistan and they want their own country. They want a nation-state that protects them”.

The voting took place at the same gurdwara where gunmen whom the Canadian government said were Indian agents shot and killed Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said “credible allegations” potentially link agents of the Indian government to Nijjar’s murder.

“They’re coming out and saying that we will not be scared,” said Jay Singh, a Khalistan supporter. “We will stand up and vote in the Khalistan referendum and express our voice.”

The vote could further strain relations already impacted by Canada’s allegations and India’s response to them.

“People are very happy to be able to express their opinion on such an important question. Should Indian-occupied Punjab be an independent country? Yes or no?” said Singh.