SURREY, B.C. –
1000’s of Sikh voters are anticipated to end up immediately within the Metro Vancouver municipality of Surrey, to vote in an unofficial referendum on the centre of Canada’s ongoing tensions with India.
Organizers say the referendum on Khalistan — an impartial state in India proposed by some Sikhs — is happening on the similar Surrey gurdwara the place activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot lifeless in June.
As we speak’s vote is the second spherical of the referendum in British Columbia, after organizers stated the primary poll on Sept. 10 was so common that voting could not be accomplished in someday.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated within the Home of Commons on Sept. 18 that there have been “credible allegations” probably linking India’s authorities to Nijjar’s killing.
Poll spokesman Gurpatwant Singh Pannun says Trudeau’s assertion has created extra open conversations round India and its dealing with of the Khalistani independence motion, whereas permitting its supporters to turn into extra vocal with out concern of retribution.
Nijjar was an organizer of the Khalistan referendum in Canada, and votes have additionally been held in a number of different areas all over the world.
The Indian authorities has denied involvement in Nijjar’s dying and has lengthy maintained that the Punjabi independence motion undermines India’s nationwide safety.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Oct. 29, 2023.
