KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
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.
11-Sep-2023
The banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) has called for the closure of the Indian High Commission in Ottawa, Canada, and the recall of India's High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Sanjay Kumar Verma, over alleged disrespect towards the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, during his visit to New Delhi, India, for the G20 Summit. SFJ has also announced plans to hold a "Khalistan referendum" in Surrey, British Columbia province, Canada, on October 29.
11-Sep-2023
The Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) ‘Khalistan referendum’, held on September 10 at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, witnessed a low turnout, prompting the event organizer to schedule a revote for October 29. SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun delivered a hate speech in which he claimed widespread participation, but local Sikhs largely dismissed the referendum as a 'sham exercise' that didn't represent their sentiments. They cited its association with controversial figures like Talwinder Singh Parmar and Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
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.