In a bid to create an independent Sikh homeland in northern India known as Khalistan, the U.S.-based group Sikhs for Justice is actively mobilizing members of the Sikh diaspora worldwide to participate in what they describe as a referendum. The latest event is taking place in Surrey, British Columbia, on Sunday, September 10, 2023. This global voting initiative has been on tour since 2021, with additional events planned to tap into separatist sentiments within the Sikh diaspora.
Sikhs for Justice has already conducted voting events in various international locations, including London, Melbourne, Rome, Geneva, and Ontario. Notably, thousands of people participated in Brampton last year, and a similar turnout was witnessed in Mississauga this July. The group’s ultimate objective is to hold a referendum in Punjab, India, in 2025.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a New York-based lawyer who serves as a spokesperson for Sikhs for Justice, revealed that once the voting process is complete, they intend to present their case to the United Nations. Their goal is to garner support for Sikh self-determination based on religious and linguistic considerations, much like the Scottish referendum held in the United Kingdom.
However, it’s worth noting that Sikhs for Justice is banned in India and has faced accusations of supporting violent extremism, according to charges filed by the Indian government in January 2020. The group has been actively highlighting human rights issues in India since 2009 and has encouraged demonstrations at Indian consulates worldwide over the past two years.
The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO), which has been advocating for Sikh rights since 1984, has clarified that it has no affiliations with Sikhs for Justice.
Notably, the Surrey vote is scheduled for September 10, coinciding with the second day of the G20 summit hosted in Delhi. Sikhs for Justice has intentionally chosen this date to draw attention to the treatment of Sikhs.
Approximately 25% of the world’s Sikh population resides outside of India, with over 750,000 Sikhs living in Canada. This global referendum initiative is seen as a powerful symbolic gesture that aims to reignite the Khalistan movement. Images of slain Sikh leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale have become prevalent on posters, t-shirts, and bumper stickers as part of this campaign.
