500 cars join Khalistani show of strength ahead of referendum in Canada

A large pro-Khalistan rally was taken out in Canada's Montreal to mobilise support for a Khalistani referendum, according to videos shared on X. A pro-Khalistani Instagram account claimed that around 500 cars joined the demonstration held on Sunday.

The non-binding referendum was announced by Khalistani extremist Inderjeet Singh Gosal in September after he came out of jail, granted bail less than a week after his arrest in Canada over the possession of illegal firearms.

Following Gosal's release, he, along with terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, general counsel of the banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), openly threatened India's Security Advisor Ajit Doval and the Indian government.

In a video message, Pannun had dared the Indian government to attempt his arrest or extradition.

In the video, Gosal was seen coming out of prison and saying, "India, I'm out; to support Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, to organise the Khalistan referendum on November 23..."

SFJ, which is spearheading the non-binding referendum, is a US-based terror group.

A pro-Khalistani Instagram account, @politics_punjab2, shared the video of the rally and claimed 500 vehicles were used in the rally.

"Khalistan Referendum Car Rally in Montreal saw a massive turnout and resounding success, with over 500 cars joining the event," the caption read.

The post further claimed that the Khalistani referendum will be held on November 23 in Ottawa.

DEBATE FLARES ON SOCIAL MEDIA OVER DEMONSTRATION IN CANADA

A self-proclaimed "Canada First" nationalist, Bruce Barrett, also shared a clip of the anti-India event on X, saying, "...This (demonstration) does not belong in Canada. Like many others, he demanded the Khalistani movement be declared a terrorist organisation so that they can be "shipped back".

Many X users slammed Barrett for calling Khalistanis "Indians".

"They are not Indians, by their own ideology. It's a movement created in Canada. No one wants them. Khali means empty. Canada has plenty of empty space. Plant them somewhere in the North," Sankrant Sanu, who writes "author" in his bio, wrote on X.

"Ship them where? Most are Canadian citizens, welcomed here by our own government. Khalistan isn't a foreign issue... They blew up AI182 in 1985, killing mostly Canadians, and 40 years on, families are still waiting for justice. Calling them Indians is willful ignorance," Ruchi Wali, an X user, said in a post.

Other X users also criticised the Canadian government for not taking action against the demonstrators.

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