Melbourne: Voting for the Australian Phase of the Punjab Independence Referendum will be held on January 29, 2023, to provide local Sikhs with an opportunity to show solidarity with the movement and condemn the Indian government-backed genocide of the Sikh nation in 1984.
Earlier, 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 will be 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.
Please visit our website London Institute of Peace Research for latest peace news
