KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
30-Apr-2021
The pro-Khalistani separatist group, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) said that the government of India has blocked a Canadian website that aims to raise funds for COVID-19 patients abroad. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a lawyer and chief of SFJ, said it launched a website (OxygenFund.org) on April 27 to connect patients in four Indian states with donations to buy liquid oxygen. However, the group launched another site April 29, Oxygen4Punjab.org, which was blocked again within hours. Though the government of India didn’t respond to it, Anshuman Gaur, India's deputy high commissioner to Canada, said that his government has labelled SFJ a terrorist group, but could not comment on whether the state blocked its site.
21-Apr-2021
According to reports, Punjabi smugglers figure among top three notorious gangs in Canada behind the biker gangs and Vietnamese groups. The Punjabi gangs have hogged international limelight these days with the Canada police claiming on April 19 that they have broken a major drug cartel run mainly by Punjabis. Out of 33 persons charged for the possession of drugs and firearms besides huge currency and a gold-plated car, nearly 25 were of Punjabi origin. According to a report from Canada said about 21 per cent of gangsters died in gang-wars or police operations since 2006 were of Punjabi region. Their activities are of high concern back home in Punjab as some of the gangs have been linked to either arrested or wanted smugglers. The main being the gangs of Devinder Dev, Kamaljit Chauhan and Amarinder Singh Chhina. The Punjab Police and NCB officials said Dev even had links with the Jagdish Bhola gang. These persons had used Punjab as the base to transport drugs to Canada, the USA and Australia through the Golden Crescent of drugs network featuring Pakistan and Afghanistan.
19-Apr-2021
In a major operation, Canadian law enforcement arrested and charged over two dozen persons, mostly Indo-Canadians with roots in Punjab, with participating in transnational drug trafficking activities. The drugs were being illegally brought into the country from the US - primarily from California - and also from India. York Regional Police (YRP), which led the investigation and the subsequent crackdown, said that multiple agencies worked on the operation that “dismantled a large-scale international drug trafficking network that extended to western Canada, the United States and India”. The investigation, named “Project Cheetah”, began in May last year (2020) and penetrated “a robust network” involved in importing large quantities of banned drugs into Canada. “The drugs were then distributed across the country through a sophisticated system run by the traffickers,” YRP said. On April 8, police in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia as well as in California executed over 50 search warrants, resulting in 33 people being charged with over 130 offences. Among them, 27 were arrested and charged in the Greater Toronto Area, with 19 of them hailing from the town of Brampton. Of these, 23 are of Punjabi origin. One suspect, Gurbinder Sooch, remains at large.
21-Dec-2020
The banned US-based pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) filed a civil defamation lawsuit against the Ottawa-based think tank Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI), with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice over the institute’s report ‘Khalistan: A Project of Pakistan’, claiming it was a “malicious attempt to undermine the legitimacy of Referendum 2020 and to threaten SFJ’s viability as a not-for-profit organisation”. “MLI’s report is defamatory, malicious, misleading… feeds into a narrative that is being propagated by the government of India. Contrary to MLI’s allegations, Khalistan Referendum is a gross root initiative led by Sikh sovereigntists,” SFJ’s general counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said in a statement. The MLI, on the other hand, has said that the defamation lawsuit filed by the SFJ is a “meritless attempt to silence public debate”.
18-Dec-2020
According to a report published by Macdonald Laurier Institute, a reputed think tank based in Ottawa, Canada, ‘Khalistan’ project is sponsored by Pakistan, and it is detrimental to the national security of not only India but Canada as well. Terry Milewski, one of Canada's veteran journalists, who authored the report reveals how Pakistan launched the ‘Khalistan’ insurgency using Indian Sikhs in Indian Punjab to avenge its own defeat in the Indo-Pak 1971 war. Interestingly, the report points out how Pakistan viewed the ‘Khalistan’ project as a strategic buffer and how an independent ‘Khalistan’ would end India's land access to Kashmir to the north, another key interest of the Pakistan Army since 1947. The report claims that the western democracies with large Sikh communities like Canada, the UK and the US are aware of this absurdity and therefore, skeptical of the ‘Khalistan referendum’, planned for November 2020.
27-Aug-2020
Ontario’s Peel Regional Police said that the August 15 incident in the City of Brampton in which a loaded handgun was seized and five South Asian males were arrested was not about Khalistan politics as reported in local media.
31-Jul-2020
The Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) attacked the Justin Trudeau’s government for its stand against referendum 2020 campaign and asserted it will go ahead with its plans in Canada and elsewhere. Its general counsel Gurpatwant Pannun in a statement said, “Canadian Sikhs will not let the Trudeau regime trump their right to peacefully express and propagate the political opinion of Khalistan by holding Referendum 2020. Trudeau government should find some other way to please India.”
29-Jul-2020
According to sources, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is camping in Canada's capital Ottawa to coordinate the August 15 voter registration camps in front of Indian Consulates in Canada and other western countries. Recently, the SFJ, headed by Pannun in Canada, burnt the Indian tricolour in Canada and mailed the remains to the Indian High Commissioner in Ottawa. The group has claimed that "remains of Indian tricolour have been mailed to Ajay Bisaria, Indian High Commissioner in Ottawa as a symbolic gesture to remind India that Canada considers Khalistan as a political opinion unlike India where Referendum 2020 campaigners are being charged under UAPA and sedition". Article 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms declares the freedom to express political opinion as a fundamental right of the people, the SFJ claims in the mail. However, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry of Canada last week rejected the SFJ's 'Referendum 2020' campaign and said, "Canada respects the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of India, and the government of Canada will not recognise the referendum."
29-Jul-2020
Twenty-five Canadian Member of Parliaments (MP) have written to Canadian immigration minister Marco Mendicino calling for a special program for Afghan Sikh and Hindu refugees so that they can be brought back safely to Canada. The letter written by 16 Conservative Party of Canada (CPC), 6 New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP) and 3 Green Party expresses “concern about the existential threat to religious minorities in Afghanistan, specifically, the Sikhs and Hindus.”
25-Jul-2020
The Justin Trudeau Government will not recognise the results of the Punjab 2020 Referendum being organised by the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). A spokesperson of Canada’s Foreign Ministry, stated in an email response to the queries of Canada’s stand on the referendum scheduled for November this year: “Canada respects the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of India, and the Government of Canada will not recognize the referendum.” The spokesperson also said that the bilateral relationship between Canada and India “is a priority for the Government of Canada.” However, Indian officials did not want to comment on this development on record, though one described it as “significant” that this was put in writing and a change from the earlier stance that the referendum was protected by freedom of speech and expression rights in Canada.
13-Jul-2020
According to reports, India and Canada are closely cooperating on the issue of Khalistani terrorism and separatism even as fringe elements in the latter have been proactive. The cooperation includes giving classified information on Khalistanis, given the full support Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been giving to them. India and Canada already have a Framework for Cooperation on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism agreed in February of 2018. his year Khalistanis have been active especially since they plan to do a so-called "referendum". Canada with second largest number of Sikh Population after India has been a ground for ISI backed Khalistanis to get support from the diaspora.
12-Jul-2020
The Indian High Commission in Canada lodged a strong protest about a program that was broadcasted by PTN24 channel on April 26, which incited violence and hatred against India. According to the sources, the program in concern was a religious program held annually as a tribute service to militants killed during terrorism in Punjab. It includes a "Sahaj Path", reading of the holy Guru Granth Sahib, followed by a speech from prominent members of the Sikh community. Sources reveal that these speeches were filled with hatred and incited violence against India. "Although the entire program was full of hateful content, speeches of Harbhajan Singh and Santokh Singh Khela were particularly vitriolic. Harbhajan Singh not only seemed supporting the act of terrorists but also claimed that the Sikh Gurus in Punjab were aiding the terrorists in their mission", said the sources. It added, "He even referred to the violent action in 1984 at the Sikh pilgrimage of Golden Temple, claiming that the terrorists inside were able to kill many Indian soldiers as they were fighting in the path of the lord".
10-Jul-2020
According to latest report, a case relating to two Canadian Sikhs being placed on a no-fly list in the country has now been linked to an alleged Pakistan-based plot to use pro-Khalistan elements to conduct terrorist acts in India. The details emerged as two men — Bhagat Singh Brar and his business partner Parvkar Singh Dulai — challenged being blocked from travelling by air. According to the report from Stewart Bell in the Canadian outlet Global News, Brar was “promoting extremism, including the radicalisation of youth, with the aim of achieving Khalistan independence; and attack planning and facilitation, including weapons procurement, to conduct attacks in India,” as per supporting case documents filed by Canadian security agencies, including Public Safety Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the country’s spy agency. Dulai was described as a “facilitator of terrorist-related activities and has shown an ongoing pattern of involvement within the Khalistani extremist milieu”. The report said that Brar visited Pakistan in 2015 and collaborated with one Gurjeet Singh Cheema to plan an attack in India. These documents alleged that Brar collected donations for gurdwaras and “is suspected to have been diverting major part of the funds for anti-India activities”. He was also linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Dulai has been described as a very vocal supporter of Khalistan. Brar again visited Pakistan in 2018 to meet his father who happens to be Lakhbir Singh Rode, nephew of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and founder of the banned International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). However, none of these allegations have been proven in any court nor have either Brar or Dulai been charged with terrorism. Both have also denied the allegations contained in the Canadian security documents in filings made by their lawyers in this case.
09-Jul-2020
Canada decided to keep two Khalistani extremists on its no-fly list. One of them, Bhaghat Singh Brar, is accused of working with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to plan an attack in India that was disrupted in 2017. Brar was stopped from boarding a flight at Vancouver International Airport on April 24, 2018, when he was told that he was on Canada's no-fly list. Parvkar Singh Dulai, his business partner, was also stopped from boarding a Toronto bound flight on May 17, 2018, when WestJet refused to let him board for the same reason. Two years later, both Brar and Dulai are still fighting to get off the no-fly list, but documents obtained by Global News alleges that they are terrorism "facilitators." According to a secret case brief report, the Canadian Intelligence Service believe that Brar is a Canada-based Khalistani extremist who has been engaged in terrorist related activities, particularly in fundraising in support of terrorist attacks overseas. The documents suggest that Brar was also involved in "promoting extremism, including the radicalisation of the youth, with the aim of achieving Khalistan independence; and attack planning and facilitation, including weapons procurement, to conduct attacks in India". Brar travelled to Pakistan in 2018, and while returning to Canada, he tried to board a flight in Vancouver but was denied boarding. The Indian government has long complained that Canada is a base for Khalistani extremists. On February 23, 2018, the national security advisers of Canada and India had signed a cooperation framework.
18-Jun-2020
Punjab-origin Sikh MP and the leader of Canada's New Democratic Party (NDP), Jagmeet Singh was temporarily expelled from the House of Commons or the lower chamber of the bicameral Parliament for calling an MP racist and for refusing to apologize and withdraw his comments.
10-Jun-2020
Canada’s Ontario Superior Court of Justice rejected the principle of universal jurisdiction for online defamation claims by the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) simply because internet publications may be accessed or downloaded anywhere. The SFJ in its case, alleged that the Republic of India, alongside India-based media organizations such as ANI Media Private Ltd., conducted a smear campaign against the plaintiff as a response to the plaintiff’s referendum for an independent Sikh nation in Punjab, India. On the other hand, the defendant ANI Media moved to dismiss or to permanently stay the action, arguing that the Ontario court neither has jurisdiction over the subject matter nor is the convenient forum for the action.
08-Jun-2020
The Indian-origin MP from the ruling Liberal Party of Canada, Ruby Sahota said in the Canadian Parliament that Operation Blue Star, conducted 36 years ago, is one of the darkest times in Sikh history. She said that the attack on the Golden Temple of Amritsar in 1984 has been recorded forever in her memory. She said that the human rights flag was blown off during this operation. "I stand with Sikhs and every community who want justice on violation of their human rights. Before Canada, Sikh MP of Indian origin Tanmanjit Singh Dhesi had also raised the matter in the UK Parliament”, she said.
04-Jun-2020
According to a confidential report prepared by the Indian intelligence agencies, Indo-Canadian crime syndicates, dominated by NRIs from Punjab, are funding separatist groups, including Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), in a bid to rekindle the Khalistan movement in India. The report revealed that crime syndicates like Dhaliwal and Grewal gangs, involved in drug trafficking and operating out of the Canadian state of British Columbia, are linked to SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and his aides. Dhaliwal and Grewal gangs founded a Vancouver-based notorious mafia syndicate ''Brothers Keepers''. Besides drug trafficking, contract killing and gun running, Brothers Keepers also fund SFJ leaders and those associated with the Khalistan movement. The report also said that with the support of illicit funds, extremist Sikh leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is conspiring to bring several Khalistani factions under one umbrella, and on this Sunday (June 7), he would be addressing a global video conference in this connection.
31-May-2020
According to reports, the pro-Khalistan group, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and their activities has been earning criticisms across several nations and this is evident from various incidents that are taking place in recent times. The latest is an ugly incident at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Surrey, BC Canada where Hardip Singh Nijjar, President of the gurdwara was involved in a brawl. Sukhi Chahal, CEO and chairman of California-based JDS Unified LLC said that “In a May 28, 2020 tweet, one of my latest questions put to Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, self-styled Legal Adviser of so-called 'Sikhs For Justice' (SFJ) was to comment on the recent reported fight between Hardeep Nijjar and others at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Surrey, BC Canada.” He said, “Hardeep Nijjar is learnt to be a ‘proclaimed Offender’ and a wanted criminal in India." “I fail to understand why such criminals are at all allowed to enter other countries and granted asylums as in Nijjar’s case. How do such criminals manage to occupy important positions of Gurdwaras abroad?”, asked Chahal.
27-May-2020
The Ontario Superior Court has recently applied the Supreme Court of Canada’s 2018 ruling to dismiss a defamation action brought by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) against an Indian based news outlet and the Republic of India (the Republic), on the basis that Ontario does not have jurisdiction. The decision in ‘Sikhs for Justice v The Republic of India, 2020 ONSC 2628’ provides important guidance on what the court considers when determining whether Ontario is an appropriate jurisdiction for online-based defamation claims, and therefore on the factors that parties should consider in starting litigation in Ontario.
19-Apr-2020
The India-Canada relations have been at an ebb recently due to the increasing influence of Pakistan in Canada, say report. The New Delhi-Ottawa bilateral relationship has soured so much that recently, in a trivial case, the country's top intelligence agency Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) unsuccessfully attempted to get an Indian national's application for citizenship rejected by accusing him of ‘covertly influencing’ Canadian politicians against Khalistanis. Though the Canadian court dismissed the accusations against the Indian national, who is an editor of a newspaper in New Delhi, the CSIS ensured that the allegation became the news in the Canadian press. According to sources, all this began when Canadians of Khalistani-background and Pakistani- descent began to assume significant positions in the Liberal Party of Canada and especially, the Trudeau government. The Defence Minister of Canada, Harjit Singh Sajjan and the Science and Technology Minister in the Trudeau government, have been publicly called Khalistani sympathizers by Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. Even the Canadian opposition, New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh is an open supporter of Khalistanis.
17-Apr-2020
According to a news report of Global News (Canada), “Indian intelligence agencies attempted to use money and disinformation to ‘covertly influence’ Canadian politicians, according to a highly sensitive government document”. The report said, “Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Indian Intelligence were allegedly behind the operation, which began in 2009”.
17-Apr-2020
The President of the World Sikh Organization (WSO) of Canada, Tejinder Singh Sidhu said that WSO is deeply disturbed by a report published by Global News revealing that Indian intelligence agencies attempted to use money and disinformation to ‘covertly influence’ Canadian politicians. He accused that “Indian intelligence agencies have a long history of using media and planted stories to negatively portray Sikhs in Canada. Sikhs have long suffered from the consequences of this foreign interference”. “The WSO has regularly raised the issue of Indian espionage and interference in Canada with the federal government. We call on the federal government to take immediate steps to clamp down on Indian espionage here in Canada and to ensure that the Canadians can live free from the machinations of foreign governments,” he added.
10-Apr-2020
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) arrested two Indo-Canadian men, identified as Sukdeep Singh (31) and Inderjeet Singh (26) and seized around 38kg of suspected cocaine from a commercial vehicle from Ontario in Canada. The estimated the value of the contraband is over 4.8 million CAD, approximately Rs 26.2 crore.
16-Mar-2020
The Khalsa Day Parade in Surrey, British Columbia in Canada, organised by Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar, was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak. Gurudwaras in Canada, Australia and at other countries have also decided not to hold big gatherings.