KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
04-Jun-2023
A float depicting the assassination of late Prime Minister (PM) Indira Gandhi was displayed in Brampton Parade on June 4 in Brampton, Canada. The 5 km long parade was taken out by supporters of Khalistan just days before the anniversary of Operation Blue Star (June 1984). Condemning the incident, Canadian high commissioner Cameron MacKay said that there is no place in his country for hate or for the glorification of violence.
04-Jun-2023
A video clip, supposedly captured during a 5-kilometer parade organized by Khalistan supporters in Brampton, Canada on June 4, showed a float that depicted bodyguards firing on the former Indian Prime Minister (PM) Indira Gandhi, with signs that read, "revenge for the attack on Shri Darbar Sahib." The reference was made to the military operation conducted by Indian troops to reclaim the Golden Temple in 1984. Notably, the parade took place just days before the anniversary of Operation Blue Star. The video sparked a widespread backlash on social media platforms.
02-Jun-2023
Canadian National Security Advisor (NSA) Jody Thomas on June 2 accused India of meddling in Canada's internal affairs. The allegations may strain India-Canada ties, particularly due to diaspora politics and the fact that Trudeau heads a minority government that is backed by the New Democratic Party (NDP), headed by Jagmeet Singh, a Khalistani sympathiser.
28-May-2023
Amarpreet 'Chucky' Samra, a 28-year-old Indo-Canadian gangster known for his violent activities, was fatally shot at a wedding venue in Vancouver, Canada on May 28. The shooting is believed to be connected to an ongoing gang conflict, and Samra was associated with the UN Gang- (The United Nations )— a criminal gang which, as per the Vancouver Sun, operates in British Columbia. Witnesses reported unidentified individuals entering the venue and instructing the DJ to stop the music before the shooting occurred. Samra was among the individuals mentioned in a rare warning issued by Canadian police in August 2022 regarding high levels of gang violence.
23-May-2023
A conference that discussed the initiatives taken by India to confront terrorism as a global threat was taken place in Toronto, Canada. The event focused on the challenges posed by different forms of terrorism, including Khalistani extremism, and explored the issue of funding, much of which is traced back to Pakistan. Experts, policymakers, and scholars discussed the historical background of the Khalistan movement, its transformation into a terrorist organization, and the importance of disrupting the financial flows supporting such groups. Recommendations were made to address global terrorism through united efforts.
16-May-2023
Former Canada Health Minister, Ujjal Dosanjh shared his experiences of joining politics and facing violence due to his opposition to rising extremism in the Sikh community. Dosanjh emphasizes that there is minimal popular support for Khalistan, with most extremists being individuals in the diaspora who are not integrated into Canadian society. He entered politics and achieved significant milestones, becoming the premier of British Columbia in 2000 and later serving as the federal health minister. Dosanjh, who still considers himself Indian at heart.
14-May-2023
Thousands gathered for Khalsa Day celebrations at the Sikh Association temple in Brantford, Canada on May 14. The celebration included a parade through the streets, food, and festivities to mark a new year and honour the Sikh holy scripture.
13-May-2023
Ujjal Dosanjh, the first Sikh and person of colour to become the premier of British Columbia, Canada, expressed his disdain for separatists advocating for Khalistan. He believes that those who champion Khalistan do so to maintain relevance and collect funds, as they are irrelevant to the societies they live in. Dosanjh, who opposes Khalistan, has witnessed the movement fluctuate over the past five decades. He criticizes the narrative that Sikhs face repression and lack freedom in India, emphasizing the need for balanced perspectives from high commissions abroad. Dosanjh suggests that the Indian government should not be overly concerned with the demand for Khalistan and should focus on moving forward. Despite facing backlash and attempts to undermine his Sikh identity, Dosanjh remains undeterred as an author, tackling subjects such as extremism and historical events related to Golden Temple.
05-May-2023
According to reports, Canadian police are seeking at least three suspects involved in an assault on attendees of an event in Surrey, British Columbia in Canada, that prevented India's High Commissioner in Ottawa from attending in March. Pro-Khalistan protestors were present, and some attendees, including a journalist, were reportedly assaulted. Two videos have been released showing three suspects believed to be involved.
05-May-2023
A well-known kabaddi promoter in Canada, identified as Kamaljit Singh was shot at outside his house in Surrey in Canada by unidentified assailants on May 5. The incident comes after the killing of three Punjabis abroad in the past two days. Two brothers from Bidhipur village in Kapurthala were shot dead by their associates in Portland, in United States (US) and a 30-year-old from Kapurthala was shot dead by robbers in the US.
01-May-2023
Satinderjit Singh Brar alias Goldy Brar, a notorious gangster from Punjab and a Canadian fugitive accused of involvement in the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala and other crimes in India, has been added to Canada's top 25 most wanted criminals list. A statement issued by the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi said the country’s Be On Look Out (BOLO) Programme, a not-for profit organization that amplifies police fugitive cases to increase public awareness, has updated its list of 25 most wanted criminals on May 1. Brar, who arrived in Canada on a student visa in 2017, is not charged with any criminal offences in Canada, but is under investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). There is no reward for his capture, but the RCMP is working closely with Indian law enforcement to ensure justice is served. Brar is believed to be a risk to public safety and has direct links to a Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorist outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operatives.
30-Apr-2023
According to reports, thousands of Sikhs gathered in Downtown Toronto in Canada to celebrate Khalsa Day on April 30. It was the third biggest parade in the city of Toronto. The parade, organized by the Ontario Sikhs and Gurdwaras Council, started at Exhibition Place and ended at Toronto City Hall's Nathan Phillips Square.
30-Apr-2023
Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau on April 30 participated in the Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan in Toronto in Canada, after seven years along with some of his Cabinet colleagues and Liberal Party MPs. His presence at the Khalsa Day event in 2017 had irked the Indian government due to the presence of Khalistani flags, posters of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, and the celebration of a motion terming the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as "genocide." This year's celebrations also featured Khalistani flags, but the parade's organisers largely prevented the occasion from being hijacked by separatist Khalistani elements.
22-Apr-2023
It has been reported that during the Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey, Canada on April 22, some individuals were seen carrying Khalistani flags.
05-Apr-2023
The president of Friends of Canada and India Foundation in Surrey, Canada, Maninder Gill complained that he was continuously getting death threats from Khalistani radicals after he organised a reception last month in honour of India’s High Commissioner to Ottawa. He wrote a letter to the interim Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), stating that he is being warned that he could face a similar fate as Ripudaman Singh Malik, who was shot dead in Surrey. Gill, who is also a media person, was the principal organiser of the event at a convention centre in Surrey on March 19. However, due to the presence of nearly 200 protesters, some of whom were wielding swords, in front of the venue, the High Commissioner was forced to cancel his attendance.
04-Apr-2023
A Hindu temple named BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Windsor town in Ontario, Canada, was vandalized and desecrated with spray-painted anti-India and anti-Modi graffiti on April 4 night.
02-Apr-2023
A senior Indian official has stated that India has raised the issue of multiple instances of defacement targeting statues of Mahatma Gandhi with the Canadian government. The Indian High Commission in Ottawa conveyed their apprehension to Global Affairs Canada, the Foreign Ministry of Canada.
31-Mar-2023
As per reports, a meeting that took place near Toronto during the summer of 2022 is indicating a growing connection between Pakistan, fugitive Amritpal Singh’s outfit Waris Punjab De (WPD), and prominent Khalistani figures based in Canada. In May 2022, Pakistan's Consul General in Toronto held a meeting with a group that included Daljit Singh Kalsi, who is believed to be associated with Amritpal Singh and is currently being held under the National Security Act after being apprehended in Gurugram.
30-Mar-2023
During an interview on March 30, Herb Dhaliwal, Canada's first cabinet minister of Indian origin, stated that the majority of Sikhs in Canada do not support the idea of Khalistan. When asked about the recent attention given to pro-Khalistan activist Amritpal Singh in the Canadian media, Dhaliwal responded that the demand for Khalistan comes from a small and insignificant group with their own agenda. He further commented that instead of Khalistan, there is a significant demand for those responsible for the 1984 riots to be held accountable. Dhaliwal said he had raised this issue with former Prime Ministers IK Gujral, Manmohan Singh, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and emphasized that the wounds from the riots still haven't healed and people are seeking answers.
24-Mar-2023
An Indian-Canadian TV reporter, Pardeep Bains, reportedly received death threats from Khalistan supporters after some of his guests criticized Amritpal Singh during a television show. Bains claimed that the threats included pictures of his family's home in the Hoshiarpur district of Punjab and the location of his studio in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Canada. Some of the threats were made via WhatsApp calls, with the numbers appearing to originate from Pakistan and Malaysia. In February 2023, Bains also received a threatening letter which he claimed was from the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF).
23-Mar-2023
In response to a question from Indo-Canadian MP Iqwinder S Gaheer in the House of Commons on March 23, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, stated that “We are aware of the evolving situation in Punjab and we are following it very closely. We look forward to a return to a more stable situation. And you can always count on the Government of Canada to make sure that we will continue to address the concerns of many members of the community.”
23-Mar-2023
Pro-Khalistan supporters on March 23 vandalized a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Hamilton's City Hall in Ontario, Canada. They defaced the statue with paint and anti-India graffiti, including derogatory remarks about Gandhi and an assault on Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi. Additionally, they attached a Khalistan flag to the statue's walking stick.
21-Mar-2023
An Indian-origin journalist, Sameer Kaushal on March 21 posted a video on Twitter in which he alleged that he had been harassed and physically assaulted by a group of pro-Khalistani protesters while he was reporting on the Indian High Commissioner's visit in Surrey, Canada. In his tweet, Kaushal wrote, “I was in #SurreyBC to cover the @HCI_Ottawa Indian High Commissioner’s visit, where a pro-Khalistani group treated the Canadian media like this. Ask your Punjabi-speaking friends or colleagues what derogatory and embarrassing words they are using here.” He also claimed that instead of intervening to stop the offenders, the Surrey RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) repeatedly asked him to leave the area for his own safety, as they were unable to offer him the same level of protection as a taxpayer.
19-Mar-2023
Jagmeet Singh, the leader of Canada's New Democratic Party, received backlash on Twitter for expressing concern about the Punjab police's extensive crackdown in the state and subsequent suspension of the internet to arrest Khalistan sympathizer Amritpal Singh. Singh appealed to Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau to intervene in the situation through his tweets. However, some social media users criticized him for openly supporting a terrorist.
19-Mar-2023
The Indian High Commissioner in Canada was forced to postpone an event in British Columbia when Khalistan supporters who protested Punjab police’s crackdown against Amritpal Singh blocked the venue's entrance on March 19. India’s High Commissioner to Ottawa Sanjay Kumar Verma was scheduled to attend a reception organised by the Friends of India & Canada Foundation in Surrey, British Columbia. Prior to the scheduled start time, around 200 protesters, some carrying swords, gathered in front of the Taj Park Convention Centre, preventing the event from proceeding. In response, Maninder Gill, the Foundation's president, expressed his disappointment, stating that "it is a shame if even the High Commissioner cannot be safeguarded in this country."