Canada’s Referendum Rally Sees Low Voter Turnout Amid Nijjar Row with India – News18

The long-awaited anti-India referendum held in British Colombia, Canada has officially been declared a failure, according to reports obtained by CNN News18. This was held on Sunday amid substantial police deployment, at the same Surrey gurdwara where Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead in June.

This event came in the wake of the diplomatic storm caused by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claim that there were “credible allegations” linking the Indian government to Nijjar’s killing. New Delhi has strongly denied allegations in the death of the Sikh separatist, whom New Delhi labeled as a “terrorist”. India also asked Canada to furnish proof for its claims that led to a tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats and a request for parity in mission staff from New Delhi.

The voter turnout in Surrey was reported to be no more than 2000, emphasising the lack of new engagement in the referendum process. The reports from local sources indicate that this time, only the same group of people who participated in the previous referendum turned up including predominantly student participants, with no new groups joining in.

The previous referendum, which took place on September 10, had seen a claim of 1.35 lakh votes, but the actual turnout was a mere 2398 votes. Following the disappointing response in Surrey, there are discussions about organising referendums next year in Abbotsford, Edmonton, Calgary, and Montreal.

Occasionally, separatist groups like “Sikhs for Justice” organise these unofficial “Khalistan Referendum” which India in the past has described as “politically motivated exercises by extremist elements” that are allowed to take place in Canada. India, on the other hand, has long been pressing the Canadian government in this matter and has called upon them to prevent anti-India activities by individuals and groups based in their country who have been declared terrorists under Indian law.