Khalistan Referendum in Calgary, Indian & Canadian MPs Claim SFJ Threats

On 28 Jul, more than 55K Canadian Sikhs voted in the Khalistan Referendum at the Calgary Municipal Plaza. According to Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), the 13^th such Referendum was dedicated to nine pro-Khalistan Canadian Sikhs who have been assassinated by India. The referendum campaign, supervised by the Punjab Referendum Commission, has already held votes in Geneva, Paris, Rome, Milan, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Houston, Brampton, Mississauga, Malton, and Surrey. The Referendum is non-binding, not legally enforceable. India said the Referendum was taking place on govt. land and Canada must stop it. Ian Fleming, director, corporate properties and buildings, City of Calgary said, ‘Individuals and organizations can use the Plaza without permission, application or permit if they adhere to the expectations and guidelines of appropriate activities and behavior.’ Meanwhile, Indian Rajya Sabha (Upper House) Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP from Kerala V Sivadasan has reported receiving a threatening call from SFJ. In a letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, Sivadasan detailed the call received on 21 Jul at Indira Gandhi International airport, New Delhi. ‘The caller,’ Sivadasan said, ‘threatened to bombard the Indian Parliament to Red Fort with the Khalistan Referendum messages.’ Similarly, Indian-origin Canadian MP Chandra Arya – who condemned the Referendum and the anti-India graffiti at the Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton, Alberta – claimed Gurpatwant Singh Pannun from SFJ had released a video demanding that Arya and his Hindu-Canadian friends go back to India. The Indian Consulate in Vancouver has condemned the temple defacement and called for an investigation. Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha organization which manages the temple has not responded to the temple vandalism. No one has been charged in these vandalism cases which coincide with Khalistan Referendum, the video footage of the temple incidents haven’t been made public, and a Sikh organization had earlier announced a $10K CAD award for any information.