TOI correspondent from London: Thousands of Canadian Sikhs carrying yellow Khalistan flags queued for hours to take part in an unofficial so-called “Khalistan Referendum” in Ottawa on Sunday in freezing temperatures, icy winds and snow.The non-binding referendum, organised by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which is banned in India under UAPA for its subversive activities, asked them to vote on whether they wanted a separate homeland called “Khalistan” and for Punjab to secede from India.More than 53,000 Canadian Sikhs from Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec queued for two km to cast their ballots, SFJ claimed.“From new-born children to seniors using walkers, families remained in line all day. Thousands were still waiting when the 3pm closing time arrived, and voting continued to ensure they could cast their ballots,” SFJ claimed, questioning why Canadian PM Mark Carney met PM Narendra Modi on the margins of the G20 leaders’ summit in South Africa on the very same day.Videos taken by Alberta-based “Media Bezirgan” show Sikhs queuing round the block to vote at the McNabb Community Centre. Police liaison officers stood around as Khalistan supporters chanted “kill” slogans against India’s politicians and govt officials. SFJ general counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, designated a terrorist by India, addressed voters through a satellite message.The “referendum” concluded with the desecration of the Indian flag.
