KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
20-Sep-2023
The Canadian government on September 20 issued a travel advisory, urging its citizens to exercise a high level of caution when traveling to India. In their travel advisory, they recommended avoiding all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir due to the unpredictable security situation, citing threats of terrorism, militancy, civil unrest, and kidnapping. However, they specified that this advisory does not apply to travel within the Union Territory of Ladakh, and they advised avoiding gatherings and demonstrations.
20-Sep-2023
On September 20, Canada's allies in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, such as Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US), and New Zealand, have voiced concerns about Prime Minister (PM) Trudeau's allegations and have called for the prosecution of the wrongdoers.
20-Sep-2023
According to sources, Canada, a member of Interpol, disregarded Interpol-issued red notices against Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), along with other terrorists like Lakhbir Singh alias Landa and Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala. Furthermore, before Nijjar's murder in June 2023, the Punjab police had sought his extradition to India in 2022. Similar extradition requests are also pending for Landa and Arsh Dala.
19-Sep-2023
Balraj Singh Nijjar, the son of the deceased Khalistani terrorist and the chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), Hardeep Singh Nijjar, revealed in an interview in Vancouver on September 19 that his father regularly met with Canadian intelligence officials in the months leading up to his murder in June 2023. According to Balraj, these meetings occurred once or twice a week and had increased in frequency over three to four months, with one scheduled just two days after his death.
19-Sep-2023
Canadian Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, during a press conference in Ottawa, called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on September 19 to provide more information regarding allegations of Indian government involvement in the murder of the deceased Khalistani terrorist and the chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada. Poilievre urged Prime Minister Trudeau to share more evidence to allow Canadians to assess the situation.
19-Sep-2023
Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau on September 19 clarified that his statement on the potential involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani terrorist and the chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) Hardeep Singh Nijjar was not intended to escalate tensions with India. India had dismissed the allegations as absurd and motivated. Trudeau's accusation has strained bilateral relations, already tense due to pro-Khalistan activities in Canada.
19-Sep-2023
According to official sources, Canada is reportedly hosting at least nine separatist organizations that support terror groups, including pro-Khalistani outfits such as the World Sikh Organization (WSO), Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), and Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). Indian authorities have repeatedly requested the deportation of individuals involved in terror activities and gangsters conspiring with Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) who have found a safe haven in Canada. These requests have gone unaddressed, leading to tensions between India and Canada. Canadian politicians like Jagmeet Singh Dhaliwal, who supports the Khalistan referendum, have contributed to these tensions, particularly as they seek support from Sikh populations with pro-Khalistan sentiments.
19-Sep-2023
Sergeant Timothy Pierotti, from the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), stated that investigators are working closely with various law enforcement agencies at the local, provincial, and national levels in relation to the shooting of Khalistani terrorist Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar. They consider this a high-priority investigation, but as of now, no one has been charged in relation to the incident.
19-Sep-2023
Balraj Singh Nijjar, the son of the deceased Khalistani terrorist and the chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), Hardeep Singh Nijjar, on September 19 expressed a 'sense of relief' upon hearing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's claim that the Indian government was involved in his father's killing. He, at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, stated that it was only a matter of time before the truth came to light and hoped that specific individuals would be identified and appropriate actions taken.
19-Sep-2023
Tejinder Singh Sidhu, the president of the World Sikh Organisation (WSO), stated that Justin Trudeau's announcement vindicated those who have accused India of targeting Canadian Sikhs for a long time.
19-Sep-2023
World Sikh Organization (WSO) of Canada board member Mukhbir Singh, in a press conference in Ottawa, on September 19 stated that while this week's revelations might have surprised many Canadians, they were not unexpected within the Sikh community. He also mentioned that his organization was aware of additional threats against Canadian Sikhs, including advisories for some to alter their daily routines for safety. However, he did not specify the source of these threats. Stephen Brown, the head of National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), referred to the killing of Nijjar as 'an unprecedented attack against Canadian sovereignty.'
19-Sep-2023
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), issued a threat to Hindus living in Canada in a viral video. In the video, he urged Indo-Canadian Hindus to leave Canada and return to India, alleging that they had forsaken their allegiance to Canada and its constitution. He warned of potential attacks on Indian missions in Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver in Canada on September 25. Pannun also announced an upcoming referendum in Vancouver on October 29 to determine if Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma was responsible for the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He pledged to hinder the functioning of Indian consulates and push the Canadian government to identify those behind Nijjar's killing, which he believed was meant to send a warning to pro-Khalistan Sikhs worldwide.
19-Sep-2023
According to sources, Canada's relatively easy asylum process, especially for individuals claiming political persecution or human rights violations, has led to the entry of hardline Sikhs over the years, some of whom are associated with Khalistani separatism. In 2018, the Intelligence and Analysis section of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) compiled the 'Refugee Claims Analysis Report' (RCAR), which revealed a more than 300 percent increase in asylum seekers from India in the preceding two years, with the majority being Punjabis. Canada's first cabinet minister of Indian origin, Herb Dhaliwal, states that the demand for Khalistan primarily stems from small and insignificant groups with their own agendas.
18-Sep-2023
During an emergency session of the House of Commons (the lower house of the Parliament of Canada) on September 18, Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau escalated a diplomatic standoff with India by claiming that his government is investigating "credible allegations" of India's involvement in the killing of a prominent Khalistani terrorist and the deceased chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), Hardeep Singh Nijjar, on Canadian soil. PM Trudeau stated that Canadian national security authorities have reason to suspect that "agents of the Indian government" were responsible for the murder of Canadian citizen Nijjar, who also served as the president of Surrey's Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara. He said, "The involvement of any foreign government in the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty." Trudeau added that his government had already raised the matter with India.
18-Sep-2023
Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly on September 18 announced the expulsion of a ‘top Indian diplomat’ identified as Pavan Kumar Rai, the head of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in Ottawa, as a result of the ongoing investigation into possible links between the Indian government and the alleged assassination of Khalistani terrorist and chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada.
18-Sep-2023
According to reports, the second phase of the Khalistan referendum in Canada, organized by the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), will be held on October 29. It will include a question asking voters whether the Indian High Commissioner, Mr. Sanjay Kumar Verma, was responsible for the death of the radical Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023. The referendum will take place at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia province, Canada, where Nijjar was killed.
17-Sep-2023
According to reports, Canada's political parties, influenced by the Sikh and Sri Lankan Tamil diasporas, have strained relations with India and Sri Lanka. With large and influential communities in Canada, politicians fear losing their support, which has led to their indulgence in these communities' demands while sometimes overlooking concerns about sovereignty and integrity. The tolerance of the Khalistani and Tamil Eelam movements in Canada has further exacerbated tensions with India and Sri Lanka. Additionally, concerns about foreign interference in Canadian politics by Russia, China, and India have added to the discord between Canada and India, impacting bilateral relations. These factors have complicated Canada's foreign policy and strained international relations.
16-Sep-2023
According to intelligence sources, on September 16, a clandestine meeting took place between Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) agents from Pakistan and leaders of Khalistani terror organizations, including Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), in Vancouver, British Columbia province, Canada. The meeting codenamed 'Plan-K,' aimed to intensify anti-India propaganda and received substantial funding from the ISI.
16-Sep-2023
The Consulate General of India in Vancouver, Mr. Manish, on September 16 urged the Canadian authorities to investigate an assault on a 17-year-old Sikh high school student in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. The student was allegedly kicked, punched, and pepper-sprayed after an altercation, and the consulate condemned the incident, urging prompt action against the perpetrators. This is the second such assault on a Sikh youth riding public transit in the city this year, highlighting concerns about violence against the Sikh community in Canada.
15-Sep-2023
Conservative Party Leader Poilievre expressed his belief in a united India-Canada but emphasized the importance of freedom of expression during an event in Surrey, British Columbia (BC), Canada. He stated that individuals have the freedom to support the Khalistan cause or express dissenting opinions, much like Quebec separatists in Canada, as long as it's done peacefully. Poilievre aims for Canada to be a country where diverse opinions can be freely expressed.
14-Sep-2023
According to an official in Ottawa, Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng on September 14 postponed a trade mission to India planned for October. This comes as a response to India criticizing Canada for not addressing Khalistani secessionism and violence against Indian diplomats and the Indian community in Canada. Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on September 12 expressed concern over the space given to Khalistani extremism in Canada, describing it as an ongoing issue.
13-Sep-2023
The banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has set a new date for their Khalistan referendum event in Surrey, in the province of British Columbia, on October 29. The referendum is titled "Shaheed Nijjar Kill India Khalistan Referendum-II" and appears to be a retaliatory action, seeking revenge for the alleged assassination of the deceased Khalistani militant and former leader of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) by the SFJ. This decision follows recent comments from Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau, who supported the right of Canadian Sikhs to peacefully advocate for Khalistan during his visit to New Delhi for the G20 Summit. Meanwhile, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre emphasized the importance of freedom of expression while expressing his belief in a united India and Canada. The referendum event was previously held at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey on September 10.
13-Sep-2023
The Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau, in Ottawa, Canada, on September 13, firmly denied rumours of stepping down and affirmed his commitment to continuing his work despite criticism, particularly after the G20 Summit where Indian PM Narendra Modi raised concerns about Khalistan extremism in Canada. Meanwhile, Khalistan separatists, led by the banned terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), have announced another referendum to be held on October 29, escalating tensions between the two countries.
13-Sep-2023
According to reports, nine candidates of Punjabi origin are running in the Manitoba provincial polls in Canada, scheduled for October 3. The major political parties, the National Democratic Party (NDP) and Progressive Conservative Party (PC), are relying on support from the South Asian and Punjabi communities, with several candidates representing these groups in various constituencies.
12-Sep-2023
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team is scheduled to travel to Canada next month to probe into the Khalistani assault on the Indian High Commission in Ottawa, Canada on March 23, 2023.