Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a secessionist group, has intensified its efforts to conduct a series of Khalistan Referendums across Canada, buoyed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent statement linking Indian agents to the killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar. While not explicitly stated, these efforts are expected to continue into 2025, aligning with Canada’s next Federal elections, with the aim of potentially influencing those polls, particularly in the seat-rich Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Metro Vancouver regions.
The next phase of this initiative is scheduled for October 29 in Surrey, British Columbia, at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, which was previously led by Nijjar until his tragic killing on June 18. Referendum posters have even named the venue as the “Shaheed Nijjar Voting Centre.”
Encouraged by Trudeau’s statement, SFJ anticipates a substantial turnout, with the Sikh community feeling more empowered to participate in Surrey and future Khalistani voting centers. Gurpatwant Pannun, SFJ’s general counsel, emphasized that many Khalistan supporters were previously hesitant to voice their opinions for fear of being labeled terrorists. However, they now feel emboldened to speak out following Trudeau’s statement.
The voting process is anticipated to conclude in 2025, with the referendum results to be tallied later that year, conveniently aligning with Canada’s scheduled Federal elections in September 2025.
Recent developments have also seen diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, with both countries expelling a diplomat each. India’s decision to pull 41 Canadian diplomats from its territory led to Canada describing it as a “mass expulsion.” The move was a response to New Delhi’s stance that the diplomats would lose their diplomatic immunity if they remained stationed beyond a specified deadline. India cited the desire for “parity” in the number of diplomats as the reason for this action. After suspending the visa issuance process on September 21, India recently resumed issuing visas to Canadians in specific categories on Thursday.
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