Mega Khalistan car rally held in Ottawa ahead of referendum on Nov 23
Ottawa: Hundreds of cars participating in a Khalistan car rally reached the residence of Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Patnaik in Ottawa, protesting against India’s ongoing repression of Sikhs and asserting the diaspora’s support for the upcoming Khalistan Referendum.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the rally was organised by Sikh for Justice (SFJ), with SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun describing the event as a demonstration of peaceful, ballot-based democracy.
The referendum, scheduled for November 23 at the Billings Estate in Ottawa, has been approved by Canadian authorities and framed as a choice between the ballot, representing the democratic will of the Sikh community, and bullets, referencing India’s history of transnational assassinations and threats against Sikh activists.
SFJ highlighted that this is a continuation of previous phases of the referendum, noting that in March 2025, around 35,000 Sikhs participated in a voting phase held in Los Angeles. The organization also announced that voter registration will begin in Punjab, India, on January 26, 2026.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun expressed gratitude to the Canadian government for respecting democratic rights, maintaining open communication with organizers, addressing security concerns, and permitting the use of a National Historic Site for the voting process.
Observers noted that the rally’s symbolic march to the residence of the Indian High Commissioner reflects the growing mobilisation of the Sikh diaspora in Canada. Analysts say the event underscores that the Khalistan referendum is evolving into a diaspora-driven soft-power campaign, combining political messaging with public demonstrations to internationalise the issue of Sikh self-determination.
The Ottawa rally, widely attended and highly visible, sends a clear signal that the Khalistan movement retains significant support among expatriate Sikh communities, while also highlighting ongoing tensions with India’s diplomatic presence abroad.
