SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Around 5,000 people of the Sikh faith gathered at the California State Capitol to vote on independence from India.
The event was held over the past few days on the west steps of the Capitol and included readings of the holy scripture. It wrapped up with the vote. Sunday’s event attracted around 5,000 people.
The vote asks whether the primarily Sikh state of Punjab in India should break away and form an independent nation called ‘Khalistan.’
The non-binding referendum was proposed by Sikhs for Justice, a U.S. based group.
Supporters say there is an ongoing history of persecution in India.
“They are killing innocent people over there, they are labeling as a terrorist even without any reason,” said Jaswant Singh, a supporter of the independent state. “We want our own country. Without our own country, we do not feel safe over there."
The Sacramento region hosts one of the largest Sikh populations outside of India.
The independence is strongly opposed by the India’s current Hindu nationalist government.
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