KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
02-Aug-2023
Public Safety Canada on August 2 assured that law enforcement in Ottawa is investigating a video that appears to threaten Indian diplomats in Canada and will ensure the safety of all diplomats in Canada. Tensions between Canada and India have arisen over issues related to Khalistani separatists who made and distributed posters online and offline, accusing Indian diplomats of being "killers," and a parade float depicting the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister (PM) Indira Gandhi.
01-Aug-2023
A couple from Punjab, Rajvinder Kaur and Randhir Singh, based in Montreal, Canada who claimed to be at risk due to alleged links to the Khalistan movement, were denied refugee status by the Canadian authorities. Their lawyer stated that their only hope now lies in intervention from Canada's immigration minister, Marc Miller. Similar cases involving potential deportation from India and claims related to Khalistan have been seen in the past, with a significant number of such refugee claims not being accepted. In the first quarter of 2023, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada accepted 833 claims and rejected 722, continuing the trend of higher rejection numbers in recent years.
01-Aug-2023
An anti-India poster was discovered on August 1 outside the housing building of the Indian Consulate in Vancouver, Canada. The posters featured the word "Wanted" under photographs, naming India's top diplomats in Canada, including the High Commissioner to Ottawa, Mr. Sanjay Kumar Verma, and the Consul Generals in Vancouver and Toronto, Mr. Manish and Mr. Siddhartha Nath, respectively. India has complained to Canadian authorities over the security lapse that led to the anti-India poster being placed on the building.
31-Jul-2023
Pro-Khalistan elements in Canada initiated their latest episode of a poster campaign targeting India's senior-most diplomats in the British Columbia province in Canada. In Surrey, Canada, on July 31, a new set of posters with the word 'Wanted' were displayed in various locations, targeting Indian diplomats in Canada, High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, the consul general in Vancouver, Mr. Manish and Toronto, Mr. Siddhartha Nath. Videos of the posters being put up were shared on social media, with many posts seemingly originating from Pakistan-based or pro-Pakistan accounts, some of which were recently created. This batch of posters, like earlier ones also referred to the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the leader of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), as “assassination” and blamed his death on Indian diplomats. Meanwhile, Maninder Gill, president of Friends of Canada and India Foundation (FCIF) in Surrey, Canada strongly criticized the posters and urged the city to prevent their display, citing violations of municipal bylaws.
22-Jul-2023
Canadian security services have heightened security at the residence of the High Commissioner of India to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, in Ottawa on July 22, following online threats related to the pro-Khalistan 'Kill India' campaign which surfaced on July 21. The threats by the banned Khalistani separatist group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), posted for August 15, India’s Independence Day, were seen as an "escalation" compared to previous campaigns for rallies at Indian missions in Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver on July 8. Earlier, Indian authorities have expressed concern to Canada's foreign ministry Global Affairs Canada and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), who have been responsive to the threat perception.
16-Jul-2023
According to Pakistan news reports, the banned Khalistan group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) has reportedly called for the Indian High Commissioner in Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, to be declared 'Persona Non-Grata', for his alleged interference in Canada's internal affairs alleged interference in Canada's internal affairs. Earlier, in an official communique, High Commissioner Verma urged the Canadian government to take strict action against the illegal referendum conducted by the SFJ, which is seen as an attempt to undermine the relationship between Canada and India.
16-Jul-2023
According to sources, a Khalistan Referendum event organized by the banned Khalistan group, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) was held at Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Malton, Mississauga, Canada, on July 16.
14-Jul-2023
In an official communique, India's High Commission in Ottawa, Canada, has expressed its concern to Global Affairs Canada, the country's foreign ministry, regarding the upcoming Khalistan referendum organized by the banned Khalistan outfit, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), scheduled for July 16. According to sources, unlike the previous referendum in Brampton, Canada, permission to use a public community centre for the upcoming referendum has been denied. Meanwhile, India's High Commissioner to Ottawa, Sanjay Kumar Verma, has stated that the illegal referendum organized by SFJ is intended to disrupt Canada-India relations. However, he emphasized that millions of peaceful Indo-Canadians will counter such efforts, as demonstrated during a gathering in Toronto on July 8. Letters are being sent to Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mayor of Mississauga Bonnie Crombie, urging them to address the issue promptly and prevent the spread of hatred and misinformation.
14-Jul-2023
According to sources, three Khalistan supporters, identified as Satbir Singh alias Satta Naushera, Jaswinder Singh and Parminder Singh, believed to be involved in attacks on police establishments in Punjab in 2022, were detained in Canada. They were suspected of illegal entry and potentially using forged Portuguese passports and were detained by the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) at Toronto's Pearson International Airport after arriving from London last month. According to a senior Punjab Police official, the three Khalistani activists, who are close associates of Lakhbir Singh Landa, have been detained in Canada. These individuals were allegedly involved in planning the RPG attack on Punjab Police's Intelligence wing headquarters in May 2022 and the attack on a police station in Tarn Taran, Punjab, in December 2022. Meanwhile, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), has offered to coordinate the legal defense of these individuals in relation to their campaign for the Khalistan referendum in Punjab.
14-Jul-2023
The signboard of Shri Bhagavad Gita Park in Brampton, in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in Canada, was defaced with graffiti that targeted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The graffiti spray-painted on the signboard, which read 'Modi is Terrorist (BBC),' was discovered on the morning of July 14.
11-Jul-2023
Jeff Lal, the President of the Brampton Bharat Mata Mandir (Temple) in Canada's Greater Toronto Area (GTA), expressed his concerns on July 11 in a letter addressed to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding the rise of anti-India and anti-Hindu activities, including defacement by pro-Khalistan elements. The temple president expressed genuine worries about the safety of the priests living on the temple premises. The temple's president highlighted the need for immediate action by Canadian authorities to address this issue. Recently, posters targeting Indian officials were found in front of the temple, adding to previous incidents of such targeting.
10-Jul-2023
Canadian senior journalist Terry Milewski, in an interview with Australia Today on July 11, explained that the purpose of the pro-Khalistani "Freedom Day" rallies, which took place on July 8 in various cities and received little attention in the mainstream media, is to depict India as a genocidal state. This portrayal ignores the fact that the majority of Sikhs reside in India and do not perceive themselves as victims of genocide, he said.
08-Jul-2023
Approximately 250 Khalistani supporters assembled outside the Indian Consulate in Toronto, Canada on July 8 for a protest rally, while a pro-India rally took place on the opposite side of the street. The two groups were separated by barricades and a strong police presence. Though the pro-Khalistan group made an attempt to breach the barricade and confront the pro-India contingent, they were pushed back by the police. Two protesters were arrested, one of whom was charged with assaulting a police officer. The pro-Khalistan group displayed posters alleging the Indian establishment's involvement in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Several protesters donned jackets bearing the slogan "Republic of Khalistan" and advocated for the upcoming phase of the Punjab Referendum in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) on July 16.
08-Jul-2023
Bharat Mata Mandir, a temple in Brampton within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), was desecrated with a poster targeting Indian diplomats placed in front of it in Canada on July 8. The poster, associated with the secessionist group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), was discovered outside the temple and displayed images of Indian diplomats. Pro-Khalistan individuals, potentially linked to handles based in Pakistan, further propagated a video showcasing the poster's placement.
06-Jul-2023
Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau, addressing a press conference in Ottawa, on July 6, responded to New Delhi's accusation that his government has failed to address the Khalistani extremist campaign in Canada. Trudeau stated that Canada is a highly diverse nation where freedom of expression is valued and that Canada takes violence and threats seriously. His remarks came days after India summoned the Canadian envoy in New Delhi on July 3 and issued a demarche over the increasing activities by pro-Khalistani elements in Canada.
05-Jul-2023
An Indian-origin Member of Parliament (MP) and Liberal Party politician in Canada, Chandra Arya on July 5 strongly criticized the pro-Khalistani posters labelling Indian diplomats as "killers," and warned that these elements are becoming increasingly provocative and dangerous. Arya expressed concern about the potential for violence, referring to recent incidents such as a pro-Khalistan rally in Brampton, Canada, celebrating the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister (PM) Indira Gandhi. The Indian government had earlier summoned the Canadian envoy and issued a demarche, urging Canada to take appropriate measures against pro-Khalistani activities. Canada has assured India of the safety of its diplomats and condemned the circulating promotional material for the Khalistan rally.
04-Jul-2023
The Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Melanie Joly on July 4 emphasized Canada's commitment to the safety of diplomats under the Vienna Conventions and reiterated that Canada maintains close communication with Indian officials regarding objectionable promotional materials and posters circulating online.
04-Jul-2023
The Canadian Minister of National Defence Anita Anand on July 4 affirmed that the posters for the July 8 Khalistan event are unacceptable and do not represent Canadians, while emphasizing Canada's responsibility to ensure the safety of foreign diplomats in the country. The security concerns regarding Indian missions and diplomats have heightened due to the circulation of a poster by pro-Khalistan elements featuring violent imagery, the phrase 'Kill India,' and photographs of Indian diplomats including Sanjay Kumar Verma, India's High Commissioner to Ottawa, and Apoorva Srivastava, Consul General in Toronto.
03-Jul-2023
The Indian High Commission in Ottawa, Canada, on June 3 sent a demarche to the Canadian Government seeking immediate measures against the Khalistan extremists responsible for the poster titled "Kill India" for their upcoming "Khalistan Freedom Rally", which threatened Indian officials, including Sanjay Kumar Verma, India's High Commissioner to Ottawa, and Apoorva Srivastava, Consul General in Toronto. The poster featured photos and designations of the two diplomats with the title "Faces of Shaheed Nijjar’s Killers in Toronto." According to the poster, the rally, named after Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed in Canada on June 18, is scheduled for July 8 in Toronto. This is not the first occasion on which India has issued a demarche to Canada; similar actions were taken in December 2020 and October 2022 concerning different matters.
02-Jul-2023
A 25-year-old Indo-Canadian gangster, identified as Karnvir Singh Garcha, was fatally shot on July 2 near Foster Avenue and North Road in Coquitlam in Burnaby in British Columbia, Canada. Garcha was previously identified as a significant threat due to his involvement in gang activities. Timothy Pierotti of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) stated that IHIT is seeking information from individuals who had recent contact with Garcha, including the driver who dropped him off before the incident.