Despite fierce opposition from the Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attempt to prevent Sikhs from holding the third phase of the referendum in Australia, over 31,000 Sikhs participated in the Khalistan Referendum in Sydney.
The Sydney portion of the Khalistan Referendum was held to commemorate the anniversary of the Operation Blue Star Amritsar Genocide, which took place in 1984 and resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Sikhs. Indian authorities attacked Sri Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple, in a bloody assault.
Numerous Sikh men and women lined up outside the Shaheed General Shabeg Singh Khalistan Referendum Voting Centre on Sterling Road, Michinbury, at 9 am and cast their ballots until 5 pm under the supervision of the independent Punjab Referendum Commission, which is in charge of overseeing the voting for the worldwide referendum and was hired by Pro-Khalistan organizations.
When PM Modi visited Australia two weeks before the Khalistan Referendum voting in Sydney, he met with Australian government officials and pleaded with them to prevent Sikhs from casting their ballots. However, the Australian government informed the Indian prime minister that Canberra respected India’s position and that it was not in a position to prevent its citizens from exercising their legal and democratic rights.
Pro-Khalistan SFJ scheduled the voting for the Khalistan Referendum at four different locations, but all of the locations ultimately canceled the booking due to organizational and security concerns after Hindutva groups, supported by the Indian government, raised false alarms about possible violence between Sikh and Hindutva groups with the centers.
The following slogans were displayed on large banners and posters that were erected outside the event: “Khalistan Referendum Australia, Shimla Capital secession of Punjab from India”; “1984 Sikh Genocide, 100+ Sikhs burned alive in furnaces by India’s Hindu mobs”; “Khalistan Referendum, the last battle to liberate Punjab”; and “Khalistan Referendum – Punjab – Shimla Capital.”
“Sydney Khalistan Referendum voting is a prodigious journey of Sikh Sovereigntists from June 1984 defending Sri Akal Takht Sahib With “bombs-bullets” to “ballot-voting” in 2023 to liberate Punjab from Indian occupation,” said SFJ General Counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
According to Pannu, the attendance in Sydney was a sign of the extraordinary growth in support of the release of Punjab from Indian control.