Calgary, Canada, is set to host the Khalistan Referendum organized by the separatist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) at a municipal plaza, making it the second such event held on government property in the country. This decision has already sparked complaints from India’s foreign ministry. Calgary’s Indo-Canadian Mayor Jyoti Gondek emphasized that the city has no control over how public spaces are used and that the event is not sanctioned or approved by officials.
The referendum, scheduled for Sunday, will feature images of Talwinder Singh Parmar, the mastermind behind the bombing of Air India flight 182 in 1985, and Hardeep Singh Nijjar, SFJ’s principal organizer who was murdered in British Columbia last year. The killing of Nijjar led to tension between India and Canada after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mentioned potential links between Indian agents and the murder.
India’s High Commission in Ottawa has protested the use of public property for an event targeting the country’s territorial integrity. Past referendums have faced challenges, with one being canceled due to a violation of the rental agreement. Despite concerns, the separatist movement continues to push for the referendum as they assert their right to gather in public spaces and express their views. The issue of Sikh separatism remains a sensitive topic that continues to strain relations between India and Canada.
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