Khalistan Independence
Over 37,000 Sikhs in New Zealand exercised their right to vote in the Khalistan Referendum held in Auckland’s Aotea Square on Sunday, demanding the creation of an independent Sikh state within India.
The referendum was organized by Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) under the supervision of the independent Punjab Referendum Commission (PRC), with voting time extended by an hour due to the large turnout.
Dr. Bakhshish Singh Sandhu, President of the Council of Khalistan and a founding member of SFJ, announced the total voter count and expressed gratitude to New Zealand authorities for allowing the referendum to proceed despite opposition from the Indian government.
He highlighted the unwavering support for Khalistan among the Sikh community, stating, “The Indian government had lobbied to prevent this event, but New Zealand upheld its commitment to freedom of expression.”
Thousands of Sikhs chanted slogans for Khalistan and condemned what they called India’s systemic oppression and genocide against Sikhs.
India’s external affairs minister, S. Jaishankar, had raised the matter with New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, during a meeting on November 6 in Canberra, urging New Zealand to ban the referendum.
However, local authorities allowed the event to proceed, asserting their dedication to democratic values.
At the conclusion of the referendum, SFJ’s Counsel General, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, accused the Indian state of oppressing Sikhs through violent means. “No option other than liberation is acceptable to Sikhs,” he said, denouncing India’s treatment of Sikhs and vowing to continue the struggle for an independent Khalistan.
He also announced a $1 million bounty for intelligence on Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s foreign trips, holding him responsible for what he described as a “terror campaign” against Sikhs.
Pannun further criticized the Indian government’s alleged involvement in the killing of Shaheed Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada and accused it of using violence to suppress Sikh aspirations.
He praised the Sikh community’s peaceful voting efforts, contrasting them with India’s historical violent repression.
Referring to India’s late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination, Pannun remarked, “The Sikh Panth has shown its resolve in the past but now chooses ballots over bullets.”
The referendum marked a significant step in the Khalistan movement, highlighting the growing call for Sikh independence and amplifying the Sikh community’s grievances against the Indian government on an international stage.
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