AUKLAND, NEW ZEALAND: Over 37,000 Sikhs exercised their right to vote in the Khalistan Referenum held here for the creation of an independent Sikh state of Khalistan within India.
The independent Punjab Referendum Commission (PRC) is conducting the referendum. Dr Bakhshish Singh Sandhu, the President of Council of Khalistan and founding member of Sikhs For Justice, announced that the total votes cast were over 37,000. The referendum was held in Auckland’s Aotea Square on Sunday, where thousands of Sikhs thronged to the venue to cast their votes, prompting the organizers to extend the voting time by one hour.
“The Indian govt had lobbied against the voting and had asked New Zealand to ban Sikhs from taking part in the voting but the local authorities approved the referendum and clarified instead that New Zealand is a country committed to freedom of expression.
Throughout the day, thousands of Sikhs chanted slogans for the creation of Khalistan and accused the Indian govt of being involved in Sikh genocide and transnational oppression against Sikhs. They have shown how much love there is for Khalistan in the hearts of Sikhs”, Dr Bakhshish Singh Sandhu told thousands of supporters of Khalistan in his speech.
Over 37,000 vote in New Zealand Khalistan Referendum demanding liberation from India
After the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) announced the event in New Zealand, the matter was raised by S Jaishankar, India’s minister of external affairs, with NZ Foreign Minister Winston Peters during their meeting on the sidelines of the Raisina Down Under conference in Canberra on 6 November.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the Counsel General of SFJ, told the audience at the conclusion of the referendum that Sikhs had terrified the Indian state through peaceful voting process and the Hindutva state has resorted to terrorist means to punish Sikhs for seeking their homeland. “No other option is acceptable to Sikhs other than liberation from India. It’s either freedom or martyrdom.”
The Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) chief announced a bounty of 1 million dollars for anyone who shares intelligence on Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s foreign trips – and held him responsible for authorising the “terror campaign” against Sikhs. He said that Sikhs have decided to take on the Hindutva violent ideology by all means possible and the campaign to do so has started from Ayodhya, the birthplace of violent Hindutva ideology.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said: “Sikh Sangat in their thousands have cast their votes today to liberate Sikhs from the Indian occupation. This is a democratic way of seeking freedom but the terrorist Modi govt is trying to stop Sikhs through bullets and terrorism. Shaheed Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar was martyred in Canada inside the Gurdwara on orders of the Indian govt.
‘Khalistan referendum sends strong message to India’
The Khalistan referendum sends a strong message to India to end its persecution of Sikhs.
A report released by Kashmir Media Service on Sunday, said a referendum for a separate Sikh homeland is taking place at Aotea Square in Auckland, New Zealand.
It said to India’s dismay, New Zealand has permitted Sikhs for Justice to hold the Khalistan referendum in Auckland. Despite India’s pressure, Modi failed to halt the Sikh referendum in New Zealand, it added.
The report said the Khalistan referendum has already taken place in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. It said massive participation of Sikhs in referendums for their homeland has unnerved India.
Results of the Khalistan referendum will be shared with the United Nations and international bodies to build global support for a separate Sikh homeland, it maintained.
The report said India must recognize Sikhs’ birthright to freedom and independence as the Khalistan movement continues to inspire Sikhs worldwide in their struggle for an independent homeland.
