Over 11,000 vote for Khalistan referendum in Brisbane amid cyber attacks
Over 11,000 vote for Khalistan referendum in Brisbane amid cyber attacks. More than 11,000 Sikhs took part in the second phase of the Khalistan referendum vote at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Center amid a major wave of attacks by Indian cyber security mercenaries on electronic voting machines.
Voting was disrupted thrice due to a massive cyber security attack on the electronic online voting system by suspected Indian hackers. The first attack was launched within 30 minutes of the start of polling – and the system shut down. System was restored within 30 minutes. For the second and third attacks, the system was restored within 20 minutes each time.
The pro-Khalistan separatist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which organized the referendum, said it suspected Indian state-backed hackers were involved in the planned attack. The SFJ noted that this was not the first time an Indian state had done this, as similar attempts had been made during previous voting phases across Europe. It said that there is evidence available that the Government of India was involved in cyber attacks against Sikhs.
Large banners in support of Khalistan and the rights of Sikhs hang outside the exhibition center reading “Khalistan referendum, Punjab, Shimla capital” and “Khalistan referendum, secession of Punjab from India”.
The “Battlefield – Brisbane” Khalistan referendum polling station of 19 March was dedicated to Shaheed Bhai Harmeet Singh Bhowal and Shaheed Bibi Baljinder Kaur, who were bombed by the Indian side along with their nine-month-old son Pavitra Singh on December 5, 1992 . Police force in Haryana
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Following the first phase of voting in Melbourne in late January this year, the SFJ organized a second phase of the referendum in Brisbane, which saw a massive turnout of over 50,000. The third and final leg of the Australian leg is scheduled to take place in Sydney in June this year. The SFJ, under the supervision of the Punjab Referendum Commission (PRC), titled “Should Indian-ruled Punjab be an independent country?” Voting is held on the question of
SFJ General Counsel and New York-based attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said Australian Sikhs have responded strongly to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to block Khalistan referendum voting in Australian cities.
Pannun commented: “The global Khalistan referendum vote is starting the countdown to the final battle for the liberation of Punjab from Indian occupation.”
Khalistan Council President Dr. Bakshish Singh Sandhu said that thousands of Sikhs are coming out from one city after another in the west to cast their votes and express their desire to create an independent Khalistan state for Sikhs. He said that the Indian Hindutva state has denied even basic human rights to Sikhs in India and this was the reason why Sikhs living outside India were demanding independence of Punjab from Indian occupation.
Voting in seven UK cities starting in October 2021 has also taken place in two centers in Switzerland, Italy and Canada.
According to the 2021 census, around 230,000 Sikhs live in Australia but local Sikhs say the real number is closer to 300,000. In 2016, there were 130,000 Sikhs in Australia. According to the 2021 census, the number of Hindus in Australia was approximately 700,000. Melbourne has the largest number of Sikhs, followed by Sydney and Brisbane.