53,000 Canadian Sikhs Participate in Ottawa Khalistan Referendum Amid Carney–Modi Trade Talks

More than 53,000 Canadian Sikhs from Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec turned out at Ottawa’s McNabb Community Centre on Saturday for the latest phase of the Khalistan Referendum, an unofficial global voting campaign organized by the secessionist group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ).

Despite freezing temperatures, snowfall, and high winds, lines stretched nearly two kilometres, with thousands still waiting when the 3:00 p.m. closing time arrived. Organizers extended polling to ensure everyone could cast their vote.

SFJ declared November 23 as “Canada’s Referendum on Khalistan,” positioning the vote as a response to Ottawa’s engagement with India. The group questioned why Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government held G20 trade meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the same day, especially after Canadian intelligence agencies linked Indian operatives to assassination plots, foreign interference, and criminal networks targeting Canadians.

Speaking via satellite message, SFJ General Counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said the referendum is part of a decades-long struggle over Sikh political rights. He stated, “History shows Indira Gandhi ultimately faced the political consequences of her actions,” and emphasized that SFJ seeks the political, not physical, defeat of Modi’s policies “through ballots, international accountability, and the continued rise of the Khalistan movement.”

As voters exited, SFJ volunteers asked if participants supported Ottawa’s trade talks with India without demanding accountability for the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an assassination linked to Indian agents. According to SFJ, the response was “overwhelmingly and almost unanimously” against the government’s engagement with India.

SFJ highlighted that the turnout reflected strong support for Punjab’s independence and dissatisfaction with Canada’s handling of New Delhi amid ongoing diplomatic tensions. Leaders reiterated their call for full accountability in Nijjar’s killing and opposed any government stance that downplays national security warnings.