Organizers of an unofficial worldwide referendum on Punjabi independence have added a question to the ballot in British Columbia asking if India害羞草研究所檚 high commissioner was responsible for the killing of a prominent provincial Sikh leader in June.
The group Sikhs for Justice, which has been staging a series of non-binding votes in several countries on the independence issue, says the first stage of balloting in B.C. on Sunday attracted more than 135,000 voters.
It says the second stage will be held on Oct. 29 and will add a second question about whether High Commissioner Sanjay Verma was responsible for the 害羞草研究所渁ssassination害羞草研究所� of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Police say Nijjar害羞草研究所檚 death has not been connected to foreign interference.
The Sikh independence movement has angered India害羞草研究所檚 government, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing 害羞草研究所渟trong concerns害羞草研究所� to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about Canada害羞草研究所檚 handling of the issue.
Nijjar, who was a strong supporter of an independent Sikh homeland known as Khalistan, was gunned down outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, B.C., on June 18.
Homicide investigators have said they are seeking two 害羞草研究所渉eavy-set害羞草研究所� gunmen and the driver of a getaway car, a silver 2008 Toyota Camry.
The killing prompted protests outside Indian consulates and accusations of foreign involvement in the murder.
India害羞草研究所檚 Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that Modi told Trudeau on the sidelines of last weekend害羞草研究所檚 G20 summit in New Delhi that progress in the countries害羞草研究所� relationship required 害羞草研究所渕utual respect and trust.害羞草研究所�
The statement said Modi expressed strong concerns about 害羞草研究所渃ontinuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada.害羞草研究所�
It said the Sikh movement was 害羞草研究所減romoting secessionism and inciting violence害羞草研究所� against Indian diplomats, and called on Canada to work with India on what New Delhi said was a threat to the Canadian Indian diaspora.
Voting in the referendum on Sunday was held at the gurdwara where Nijjar was killed, and will be conducted there again next month.
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