KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
10-Sep-2023
The chief of the Khalistani terror outfit, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, threatened Indian leaders, including Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval. In the video, Pannun mentions targeting these Indian leaders as part of seeking retribution for the alleged 'assassination' of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the deceased chief of the Khalistani terror outfit Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). 'This is a message to those who assassinated Hardeep Singh Nijjar. We are calling for your critical katal (death). Modi, Jaishankar, Doval, Shah, we are coming for you,' stated Pannun in this viral video.
10-Sep-2023
The banned Khalistan terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) on September 10 organized a referendum event for an independent Sikh nation, Khalistan, at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey in the British Columbia province of Canada. The referendum took place at the same Gurdwara that was previously headed by the slain Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar before he was fatally shot by unidentified assailants on June 18. According to some Pakistani media reports, over 100,000 people are estimated to have participated in the referendum. Interestingly, this development occurred on the same day when Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi conveyed India's strong concerns about the continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada to his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau during the G20 summit in New Delhi.
10-Sep-2023
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of the Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), on September 10 delivered an inflammatory speech, in which he stated that Sikhs would break India into smaller pieces amidst chants of 'Delhi banega Khalistan.' This speech took place during the Khalistani referendum held at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia province in Canada.
09-Sep-2023
According to reports, another Khalistan referendum, organized by the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), is set to take place on September 10 at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, in the British Columbia province of Canada.
07-Sep-2023
On September 7, the Shri Mata Bhameshwari Durga temple in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, was vandalized with anti-India and pro-Khalistan graffiti on its walls. The Surrey Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have initiated an investigation into the incident. This occurrence follows a series of similar acts of vandalism by Pro-Khalistanis, reflecting a troubling trend of hate-motivated incidents targeting Hindu temples in Canada.
06-Sep-2023
The banned Khalistani terrorist outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) on September 6 announced its plan to host the Khalistani referendum event at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey in British Columbia province of Canada. The event's new poster includes an image of the gurudwara alongside pictures of known terrorists: the deceased chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Talwinder Singh Parmar, the mastermind of the Kanishka bombing which resulted in the loss of 329 lives. This comes after Surrey School Board denied permission for this event which was previously supposed to be held at Tamanawis Secondary School in Surrrey.
03-Sep-2023
The proposed Khalistan referendum event scheduled for September 10 at Tamanwis Secondary School in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, was officially cancelled. The school's board of trustees revoked permission due to concerns raised by various societies and the use of promotional materials featuring weapons like AK-47s. The cancellation followed opposition from the local community, concerned about the event's association with the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and its portrayal of terrorists and weapons. This led to calls for a halt to the event's use of public school premises. Local residents welcomed the cancellation, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and harmony in the community.
03-Sep-2023
On September 3, the proposed Khalistan referendum event scheduled for September 10 at Tamanwis Secondary School in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, was officially cancelled by the school authorities. The cancellation was made public by a representative of the Surrey District School Board, who cited an alleged breach of the rental agreement as the reason. The reason for the cancellation was the inclusion of images of the school alongside images of weapons (AK-47 and kirpan), as well as the name of the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and pictures of the deceased Khalistani terrorist and the chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in promotional materials. The decision was conveyed to the organizers, emphasizing the school district's core mission of delivering quality education, supporting students, and ensuring a safe environment for the school community.
31-Aug-2023
Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma on August 31 expressed his satisfaction with the Canadian government's efforts to protect Indian diplomats during an interview with the Canadian press in Ottawa, Canada. He said that he remains optimistic about strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries and highlighted the importance of maintaining a delicate balance in handling diaspora politics and freedom.
26-Aug-2023
A petition aimed at formally recognizing Hinduphobia in Canada, due to concerns over a series of vandalizations of temples over the past year, has gathered more than 6000 signatures as of August 26. This is the largest number among all open petitions across categories. The petition was brought forward by the Canadian Organization for Hindu Heritage Education (COHHE) and sponsored by MP (Member of Parliament) Melissa Lantsman. Temples such as the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey, Brampton Triveni Mandir, Pashupatinath Temple in Brampton, and Sri Jain Mandir in Toronto, among others, are backing the petition after facing vandalism by Khalistanis. The initiative aims to label Hinduphobia in the Human Rights Code, define it, and address systemic discrimination and prejudice against Hindus and Hinduism.
16-Aug-2023
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police's (RCMP) Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) on August 16 confirmed that they are searching for a third suspect in the killing of Khalistani terrorist and Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The initial two suspects, described as 'heavier-set males wearing face coverings,' were found not to have acted alone.
16-Aug-2023
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police's (RCMP) Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) on August 16 confirmed that they have identified the vehicle used by the suspects in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist and the chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). The vehicle is described as a silver 2008 Toyota Camry. Nijjar was killed on June 18, 2023, in Surrey, Canada.
15-Aug-2023
The Canadian police have begun investigating the vandalism of a temple in Surrey, British Columbia, with the temple management seeking arrests and prevention of such acts. CCTV footage of the incident has been collected by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The temple management believes pro-Khalistan elements are trying to provoke the Hindu and Sikh community through such acts.
15-Aug-2023
On August 15, India’s Independence Day celebrations at Canada's missions were marked by a pro-Khalistan protest where Khalistanis burned the Indian flag outside the Indian Consulate in Vancouver, Canada. However, the protests had little impact on festivities in Ottawa and Toronto.
15-Aug-2023
Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau, in a statement, emphasized India's partnership with Canada, while Khalistani groups protested against India's alleged involvement in the assassination of Khalistani terrorist and Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly conveyed greetings on Twitter, highlighting the robust Canada-India relationship built upon shared interests and enduring connections. Anita Anand, a member of the cabinet, also emphasized the contributions of Indo-Canadians to communities as they commemorated India's Independence Day.
14-Aug-2023
Canadian rapper AP Dhillon on August 14 faced backlash for sharing a photo wearing a multicolour shoe that some claimed resembled the Indian flag, on Twitter. He later deleted the photo.
12-Aug-2023
On August 12, Lakshmi Narayan Mandir (temple) in Surrey, Canada, was vandalized by Khalistani separatists who placed anti-India and pro-Khalistan posters. The posters on the front door featured the word "Wanted" beneath photographs of India's top diplomats in Canada; the High Commissioner to Ottawa, Mr. Sanjay Kumar Verma, and the Consuls General in Vancouver and Toronto, Mr. Manish and Mr. Siddhartha Nath, respectively. On the rear doors, another poster urged Canada to investigate India's alleged involvement in the June 18 ‘assassination’ of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The temple's president, Satish Kumar, reported the incident and provided CCTV footage capturing two masked individuals to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
11-Aug-2023
Despite allegations by Khalistani separatists, an associate of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), revealed that Canadian law enforcement agencies did not mention India while briefing him about the potential threat to his life. Nijjar was killed on June 18, 2023. The individual, who maintained a close relationship with Nijjar, stated that India was not identified as the source of the threat during the agencies’ interactions with Nijjar. According to sources, Nijjar received briefings from both the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on multiple occasions this year, through telephone conversations and follow-up email exchanges.
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.