Sikhs for Justice, formerly led by Hardeep Singh Nijjar until his tragic death in 2023, is planning to conduct a referendum in Ottawa on Sunday to advocate for an independent Sikh Punjab, known as “Khalistan” among Sikh activists. This event coincides with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 summit in South Africa.

The upcoming referendum will be the seventh organized by the group in Canada since September 2022, with the initial vote taking place in Brampton, Ont., closely followed by a travel advisory from India warning of escalating “hate crimes, sectarian violence, and anti-India activities” in Canada. Subsequent rounds of voting occurred in Surrey, B.C., and Mississauga, Ont., in 2023 and 2024, respectively, along with a separate vote in Calgary. The exact voter turnout figures remain unverified by CBC News.

Although Ottawa has a smaller Sikh population compared to Toronto and Vancouver, organizers anticipate individuals traveling from Montreal and other regions to participate in the referendum.

The Indian government has previously criticized the referendum movement as a challenge to its sovereignty. Responding to inquiries, the Indian High Commission maintained a neutral stance, stating that the referendum is a Canadian initiative and refraining from further comments on the matter.

Inderjeet Singh Gosal now leads the Canadian chapter of Sikhs for Justice following Nijjar’s passing. Gosal, who has faced threats on his life, was arrested on firearms charges in September but remains out on bail and is expected to attend the referendum. Despite credible threats, Gosal declined security measures that would impede his political activities.

Expressing concerns about the resumption of diplomatic relations between Canada and India, Gosal highlighted ongoing violence within the Sikh community. He criticized the decision to restore normal diplomatic ties, citing continued criminal activities involving Indian officials in Canada, as outlined in a warning issued by the RCMP in October 2024.

Gosal emphasized that the situation has not improved and has possibly deteriorated, underscoring the urgency of addressing safety concerns within the community.