Over 23,000 votes reported in Khalistan referendum in Canada
Sikh participation continues despite threats against organisers
Edmonton: More than 23,000 votes were reportedly cast in Edmonton’s Khalistan referendum-style event on Sunday.
Thousands of Sikhs gathered at Alberta Legislature Grounds on October 18. Participants came from Canada, the United States and Europe, according to organisers. The event was organised by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
Organisers reported over 23,000 votes, describing the turnout as significant. However, independent confirmation of the final figure was not immediately available. Voting reportedly continued beyond scheduled closing time amid long queues.
Participants voted on whether Indian Punjab should become an independent state called Khalistan. The unofficial, non-binding exercise sought to highlight Sikh demands for self-determination. It forms part of SFJ’s international campaign, which has organised similar events since 2021.
FBI Warns Sikh Leader of Threat
The event took place amid fresh security concerns surrounding Sikh activists abroad. Pannun said the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned him of an imminent threat on October 15. He said FBI agents visited his New York residence before his planned trip to Canada.
According to CBS News, the FBI was investigating the reported threat. Pannun also reported receiving warnings from Canada’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). SFJ said other referendum organisers had received threat warnings as well.
The warnings renewed concerns about the safety of Sikh activists exercising political expression overseas. However, authorities have not publicly established who was responsible for the latest reported threat.
Previous assassination plot case raises concerns
Pannun was previously targeted in an assassination plot in the United States in 2023. US prosecutors charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta and former Indian official Vikash Yadav.
Prosecutors alleged that Yadav directed the plot against Pannun, a US citizen. Gupta pleaded guilty in February 2026, according to CBS News. India has denied involvement in violence against Sikh activists abroad.
The case has intensified scrutiny of allegations involving transnational repression. The 2023 killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada also strained India-Canada relations. Canadian authorities have pursued allegations of Indian involvement.
Sikh self-determination campaign continues abroad
The Edmonton gathering renewed international attention on Sikh political aspirations. Supporters say overseas voting provides an avenue for expressing demands for self-determination. The exercise is unofficial and does not determine Punjab’s constitutional status.
The Sikh struggle also remains linked to demands for justice over the 1984 anti-Sikh massacres. Survivors and families have continued seeking accountability for the killings.
SFJ has announced another referendum-style voting event in Australia for March 21, 2027. The organisation says its campaign will continue engaging Sikh communities internationally.
The latest event has again raised questions about political freedoms and activists’ safety abroad. Allegations of threats require impartial investigation and accountability based on credible evidence.
