Thousands of Canadian Sikhs took part in a “Khalistan Referendum” in Ottawa on Sunday, an event organised by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).

The gathering drew a large crowd from the Sikh community, which voiced strong opposition to India’s repressive policies and the treatment of minorities.

Participants chanted slogans criticising the Indian government and calling for an independent Khalistan.

SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said the Ottawa referendum was a response to “Hindutva violence and state oppression.”

He claimed that ballots and global accountability were the only democratic way to counter Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “fascist policies.”

Pannun said the diaspora’s mobilisation reflects growing frustration over human-rights violations and limits on religious and political freedoms in India.

Organisers say the referendum, part of a series of SFJ-led global votes, aims to highlight Sikh political grievances and draw international attention to the issue.