A significant gathering of Sikhs converged at a Khalistan referendum event in Canada, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's expression of strong concerns to his Canadian counterpart, Justin Trudeau, regarding ongoing anti-India activities within the North American nation during the G20 Leaders' Summit.
At the referendum event held at the Guru Nanak Singh Gurudwara in Surrey, Khalistani separatist and SFJ founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun took the stage to deliver an incendiary speech hinting at the concept of 'balkanising' India. Pannun was accompanied by a security detail during his public appearance, according to media reportes.
Notably, the event drew a crowd of nearly 7,000 attendees, despite earlier predictions expecting a turnout of 50,000 to 75,000. Originally scheduled to take place at a local school in Surrey, the referendum was relocated after concerns were raised about weapons featured on promotional posters, which prompted school authorities to cancel the event.
Jatinder Grewal, an SFJ director, emphasized that the impressive turnout at the referendum underscores that the issue of Khalistan resonates deeply with a substantial segment of the Sikh community and extends beyond the realm of fringe groups.
Simultaneously, on the same day as the referendum, Prime Minister Modi engaged in discussions with Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. Modi reiterated India's apprehensions about extremists advocating secessionism and promoting violence against Indian diplomats in Canada. During the talks, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) emphasized the importance of a relationship between the two nations built on "mutual respect and trust."
Trudeau's visit to India for the G20 Summit was extended unexpectedly due to a technical issue with his departing flight from Delhi, adding an unforeseen twist to the discussions between the leaders.
