TORONTO – Despite vocal protest by Narendra Modi’s government and fierce opposition from Canadian Hindutva groups, in a massive turn out more than 75,000 Canadian Sikhs voted in Khalistan Referendum Phase II in Mississauga, for the secession of Punjab from India to create an independent Sikh homeland.
While the voting opened at 9:00 am under the supervision of Punjab Referendum Commission (PRC), Sikh men and women from Greater Toronto Area (GTA) lined up since 6am to cast their votes at the Paul Coffee Arena, Mississauga, a Canadian Government owned and operated facility.
The November 6 Khalistan Referendum voting drew a counter protest by a handful of Canadian Hindus who carried Hindutva symbols and were sloganeering that under Modi’s leadership they will make India a “Hindu Country”.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the SFJ General Counsel stated that “today Canadian democracy won and Modi’s fascism lost because Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Government stood with the Sikhs’ right to freedom of expression in the face of immense pressure from all Indian quarters”.
The New York based lawyer said: “After 110,000 votes on September 18th voting, 75,000 plus Canadian Sikhs once again proved their resolve to liberate Punjab from Indian occupation to create Khalistan in line with aspirations of thousands of Sikh martyrs who have laid down their lives for the cause.”
The second phase of Khalistan Referendum was announced by Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) after over 110000 Canadian Sikhs participated in the first phase of Khalistan Referendum on 18 September 2022 and several thousands were unable to cast their votes due to a huge turnout and closure of the voting process at 5PM.