Following Trudeau's 'Tacit Support' At G20, Sikhs For Justice Announces Khalistan Referendum—In Canada

The secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has announced a new date for the so-called Khalistan referendum in the town of Surrey, British Columbia in Canada. The referendum is now scheduled for 29 October.

This development follows recent statements made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre regarding pro-Khalistani activities.

"During the G20, PM Trudeau defended Canadian Sikhs' right to peacefully advocate for Khalistan," said SFJ's legal counsel Gurpatwant Pannun in a release on Thursday.

During his meeting with Trudeau on 10 September at the G20 Leaders' Summit in the national capital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed New Delhi's "strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada."

However, speaking to the media in Delhi, Trudeau stated, "Diaspora Canadians make up a huge proportion of our country, and they should be able to express themselves and make their choices without interference from any of the many countries that we know are involved in interference challenges."

Meanwhile, Poilievre, during an appearance at the Punjabi Press Club in Surrey, expressed his view, saying, "Personally, I believe in a united India like I believe in a united Canada. But I believe people also have the freedom to disagree."

He added, "You can express any opinion, even opinions I don't agree with, and those opinions have to be expressed peacefully, but they can be freely expressed."

SFJ conducted another round of the referendum in Surrey on Sunday. The voting center was the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, the same gurdwara previously led by SFJ's principal figure in the province, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, before he was fatally shot by unidentified assailants on 18 June in the parking lot.