››REFERENDUM ’20 IN NOV,

TORONTO: Separatist group Sikhs for Justice or SFJ will go ahead with its proposed ‘Referendum 2020’ this November.

While there had been discussion on postponing the non-binding referendum due to the restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, SFJ’s legal adviser Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said they had decided to stick to the schedule for holding voting in November this year.

Pannun made this announcement during a video conference update on the referendum on Saturday. The SFJ has been banned in India due to its activities but continues to operate in countries like Canada.

He said “organised voting” will take place for the referendum and registration of voters will be open till August 15 and the final schedule will be declared on that day.

The SFJ has had discussions with authorities in several cities across the world, including in Canada, for holding in-person voting and has been told they can proceed if social distancing guidelines are followed and unless a lockdown in enforced at that time, said Pannun.

The coronavirus crisis appeared to have set back SFJ’s plans because of their inability to mobilise support at events, particularly in Canada, during the month of April when several Baisakhi related parades and gatherings are held. Similarly, some hardline gurdwaras that support SFJ have had to remain closed during this period.

SFJ, which has offices in New York and Toronto, has found the process “difficult” but Pannun said, has still opted to keep the referendum on schedule.The Indian government, in a notification issued on July 10, 2019, declared the SFJ as an unlawful association, and banned it for five years.