Khalistan referendum held in Melbourne, Australia to express support for a separate Sikh nation-state. The current “Khalistan movement voting centre Melbourne” planned to be dedicated to Shaheed Satwant Singh and Shaheed Kehar Singh, who were hanged in 1989 in Tehar Jail Delhi on charges of assassinating Indra Gandhi.
SFJ leaders dubbing Khalistan Referendum as last nail in the coffin of Indian hegemony inspired by Hindutva ideology and the ultimate victory in getting Punjab liberated from the clutches of RSS terrorists. Terming the ongoing global Khalistan Referendum as the last battle to “Kill The Indian Hindutva System” that is responsible for the Sikh Genocide and to “Liberate Punjab”.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said, Khalistan Referendum Voting Centre in Melbourne has been dedicated to Shaheed Satwant Singh and Shaheed Kehar Singh – the assassins of Indira Gandhi, who were hanged on 6 January 1989 in Tihar Jail Delhi.
On 31 October 1984, former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by Shaheed Beant Singh and Shaheed Satwant Singh for ordering Operation Bluestar resulting in the desecration of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and massacre of 10,000+ Sikh pilgrims in June 1984.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said, “In the wake of Indira Gandhi’s assassination, more than 30,000 Sikhs were targeted and killed, women raped and Gurdwaras burnt across India by the Hindu mobs with the active connivance of the administration during the first week of November 1984. Till date none of the known Hindu leader, who led death squads during the November 1984 Sikh Genocide have been convicted.
We are dedicating the Australian phase of the Khalistan Referendum to our hero Sikh martyrs.” From London, where the Khalistan Referendum Voting started on 31 October 2021, so far more than 600,000+ Sikhs have voted in the polling held at Geneva, Milan, Rome and Toronto.
The global voting in Khalistan Referendum is being held under the supervision of the Punjab Referendum Commission. Khalistan Referendum has drawn fierce opposition from New Delhi, Indian media and pro-India segments of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs).
Indian government has been pro-actively labelling and equating the unofficial referendum on Khalistan as “terrorism” and has declared SFJ as an illegal organisation under the controversial Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) of India. Already, SFJ leader Pannu called for a referendum on Khalistan, separation from the mainland, by 26 January 2023.
Pannu has urged the Sikh community to support the Khalistan referendum to create a Sikh homeland in “Indian Occupied Punjab”.
Despite severe opposition and pressure from Indian government, successful voting session of Khalistan referendum was held in Ontario, Canada. Large number of Sikhs participated in the referendum to support oppressed Sikh community in Indian Occupied Punjab.
Sikhs have expressed desire to hold referendum for freedom through legitimate/ democratic means. SFJ leader Pannun announced that the next round of Khalistan referendum was held in Melbourne, Australian on 29 January to express support for a separate Sikh nation-state.
Terming the ongoing global Khalistan Referendum as the last battle to “Kill The Indian Hindutva System” that is responsible for the Sikh Genocide and to “Liberate Punjab”. Voting in the global referendum started on 31 October 2021 in London, UK and so far in addition to more than a dozen cities around UK, voting has also been held in Geneva, Switzerland and in eight locations across Italy.
To date, an estimated 450,000 diaspora Sikhs have voted in the referendum. Sikhs living outside India makeup almost 25% of the total Sikh population around the world, giving unusual importance to the voice and opinion of diaspora in Sikh affairs. If India is real democracy, it should accept subject referendum results. President Council of Khalistan,
Dr. Bakhsish Singh Sandhu stated, “ever since Sikhs have been demanding the right of self-determination, the government of India has been criminalizing the political opinion of Sikhs and labelling the peaceful propagation of political opinion as crime, militancy, insurgency and terrorism.” The voting is a journey of the Sikh community from being the victim of genocide to seeking independence through Khalistan Referendum.