Thousands of Sikh voters are expected to turn out today in the Metro Vancouver municipality of Surrey, to vote in an unofficial referendum at the centre of Canada香蕉视频直播檚 ongoing tensions with India.
Organizers say the referendum on Khalistan 香蕉视频直播� an independent state in India proposed by some Sikhs 香蕉视频直播� is taking place at the same Surrey gurdwara where activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead in June.
Today香蕉视频直播檚 vote is the second round of the referendum in British Columbia, after organizers said the first ballot on Sept. 10 was so popular that voting couldn香蕉视频直播檛 be completed in one day.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in the House of Commons on Sept. 18 that there were 香蕉视频直播渃redible allegations香蕉视频直播� potentially linking India香蕉视频直播檚 government to Nijjar香蕉视频直播檚 killing.
Ballot spokesman Gurpatwant Singh Pannun says Trudeau香蕉视频直播檚 statement has created more open conversations around India and its handling of the Khalistani independence movement, while allowing its supporters to become more vocal without fear of retribution.
Nijjar was an organizer of the Khalistan referendum in Canada, and votes have also been held in several other locations around the world.
The Indian government has denied involvement in Nijjar香蕉视频直播檚 death and has long maintained that the Punjabi independence movement undermines India香蕉视频直播檚 national security.
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