New Delhi: In Canada, a controversial Khalistan Referendum is set to occur at the Municipal Plaza. Secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) is organizing the event to gather support for the creation of a separate Khalistan state. It is the second time such an event will be held on government property in Canada after concerns from Indias government.Authoritys limited controlCalgarys Indo-Canadian Mayor Jyoti Gondek addressed the situation, saying. There are many things that happen on Municipal Plaza because its a public space. These are not events that we sanction, they are certainly not events that we approve. The public is able to gather and do what they wish to do as a community. She was speaking in an interview with CityNews.Ian Fleming, the City of Calgarys Director of Corporate Properties and Buildings, also commented on the matter. He stated, Individuals and organizations can use the Plaza without permission, application, or permit if they adhere to the expectations and guidelines of appropriate activities and behavior.Controversial figures involvedAs the referendum approaches, the Plaza displays a large poster featuring controversial figures like Talwinder Singh Parmar and Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Parmar is known as the mastermind of 1985 Air India bombing, which resulted in 329 deaths. While Najjar was deemed a terrorist by India, he faced no charges in Canada.On September 18, 2023, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly mentioned credible allegations linking Indian agents to Nijjars killing, further straining relations between the two countries.Signs are being placed on all corners of Calgary to promote the non-binding Khalistan referendum, scheduled for July 28 and dedicated to a co-conspirator of Canadas deadliest terror attack: the 1985 Air India Bombings.Calgary is expected to become the battleground for… https://t.co/QXm5vTUi78 pic.twitter.com/9nVuZ3MOqZ— Mocha Bezirgan 🇨🇦 (@BezirganMocha) July 2, 2024Indias diplomatic protestIndias High Commission in Ottawa expressed strong disapproval over the use of public property for the separatist referendum. In an official statement, Indias foreign ministry protested against the event, arguing that it undermines the territorial integrity of India.Previous referendums on government propertyThe last referendum held on government property was at Tamanawis Secondary School in Surrey, British Columbia. However, the Surrey District School Board canceled this event a week before its scheduled date due to a breach of the rental agreement. The referendum was subsequently relocated to the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey on September 10, 2023. Earlier, a referendum took place at the Gore Meadows Community Centre in Brampton on September 18, 2022.
