INDIANAPOLIS: A referendum advocating the creation of Khalistan was held in Indianapolis, Indiana, under the auspices of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), with organisers saying members of the Sikh community travelled from different cities and states to participate in the vote.
Voting continued despite rainfall, with women and families with young children among those turning up at the polling venue. Organisers said polling was scheduled to continue until 6pm, after which the final number of ballots cast was expected to be announced.
Alongside slogans in support of Khalistan, participants also raised slogans calling for the freedom of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Ghazala Habib, chairperson of Friends of Kashmir, addressed the gathering. She said she was the only non-Sikh speaker invited to address the event from the stage. Slogans in support of IIOJK freedom were also raised during her appearance.
Vikramjit Singh, associated with the Khalistan referendum campaign, told participants that the initiative was launched in 2020 but its activities were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. He said the first vote was subsequently held in London on Oct 31, 2021, where, according to him, thousands of Sikhs cast their ballots.
Singh said voting had since taken place in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Switzerland, Italy and Canada. He said three referendum votes had been held in Toronto, two in Vancouver and another in Calgary.
In the United States, he said, referendum events had previously been held in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington, DC, with Indianapolis becoming the latest US city to host the vote.
Singh claimed that around two million Sikhs worldwide had so far participated in the referendum campaign. The figure could not be independently verified.
He also accused the Indian government of historical injustices against Sikhs, citing violence against the community, damage to the Akal Takht in 1984 and what he described as the exploitation of Punjab’s economic resources.
Singh argued in favour of dismantling India’s existing federal structure, contending that fundamental changes to the region’s political map were necessary for lasting peace. These remarks reflected the position of the campaign and were made by Singh at the event.
He said the campaign sought to pursue its objectives through peaceful and democratic means and wanted a formal, binding referendum to be held in Punjab whose outcome would have practical political effect.
Organisers said further details, including the number of ballots cast in Indianapolis and the next phase of the campaign, would be announced after polling concluded.
They said the next Khalistan referendum was expected to be held in Canada on Oct 18, although the information provided at the event did not clearly establish the Canadian city where the vote would take place.
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