SEATTLE: Gurpatwant Singh Pannun signaled the potential for an armed battle in opposition to India as a Khalistan referendum in Seattle drew greater than 27,000 Sikh voters, organizers stated, in a serious present of assist for the separatist motion.
Organizers of the non-binding vote stated tens of hundreds of contributors solid ballots in favor of an impartial Khalistan, a proposed Sikh homeland in India’s Punjab area. The referendum, held with participation from Sikh neighborhood members touring from throughout the US, was performed in an organized method.
In remarks delivered through video hyperlink after the voting concluded, Pannun, a frontrunner of the group Sikhs for Justice, raised the query of whether or not Sikhs ought to take up arms in response to what he described as Indian state repression. His feedback launched a extra confrontational tone to a marketing campaign that has largely centered on advocacy and worldwide outreach.
Individuals on the occasion chanted slogans in assist of Khalistan and voiced criticism of the Indian authorities, notably focusing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over alleged injustices in opposition to Sikhs. India has repeatedly rejected the Khalistan motion and labeled such referendums as illegitimate.
Pannun stated the motion would proceed till its targets are achieved, including that the problem of a possible armed battle may very well be raised at worldwide boards, together with the United Nations, to hunt international opinion.
Unbiased observer Don Waters, who monitored the method, stated the voting was performed according to worldwide requirements aimed toward guaranteeing transparency and equity. He described the referendum as a chance for members of the Sikh neighborhood to specific their views on self-determination.
The Seattle vote is a part of a sequence of abroad referendums organized by pro-Khalistan teams searching for to focus on their calls for on the worldwide stage.
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