KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
06-Nov-2022
According to reports, Canada's city of Brampton mayor, Patrick Brown was hackled in a temple by the Hindu community for allowing anti-India elements to conduct their ‘Khalistan Referendum’. The mayor was asked by the Hindu diaspora to remove hateful banners against Hindus from all over the city that read "Sikh Infants burnt alive by Hindu Mobs". However, Patrick Brown when asked that would he remove those banners by Khalistanis - "We love everyone," he answered. Brown was shamed in front of four federal parliamentarians, three provincial parliamentarians, and two city councilors. Liberal MP Chandra Arya appealed to the audience to cool down and said that "We do have strong differences but Mr. Brown is our guest in the temple".
04-Nov-2022
Member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) of Canada’s Ontario state, Deepak Anand, while condemning the attempts of the extremist Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) to spread hatred among the Hindu and Sikh communities settled in Canada has asked the Justin Trudeau government to bridle such activities that have the potential to trigger violence. Meanwhile, a poster displayed in Mississauga city of Canada on November 3 by the Khalistani outfit SFJ alleging, “An 8 days old Sikh infants burnt alive by Hindu mobs” in 1984 and demanding that the Canadian government declare incidents of 1984 as a “genocide of Sikhs” is evoking sharp reactions. The SFJ holds such demonstrations abroad every year to remind people of the aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s assassination on October 31, 1984, resulting in the killings of the Sikhs in Delhi and elsewhere in the country. Holding a demonstration in support of its demand the SFJ extremists alleged that trained and paid Hindu mobs killed Sikhs quoting a book written by some obscure writer. The name of the book was not mentioned.
29-Jul-2022
The Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) announced to begin the Canadian Phase of ‘Khalistan Referendum’ on September 18 from Toronto, Ontario in which Canadian Sikhs will vote on the question “Should Indian Governed Punjab Be An Independent Country”. Khalistan Referendum Voting Centre in Toronto, named after, ‘martyred’ Harjinder Singh Pahra, who was killed in an encounter in 1988, to honor the young pro-Khalistan Sikh who went back to India from Canada to participate in the then ongoing armed struggle for Khalistan in the wake of the Indian Army’s June 1984 attack on the Golden Temple. Terming September 18 voting as “Journey From Khalistan Rocket To Referendum”, the SFJ’s General Counsel, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, stated that the “ballot is the most potent weapon of this century through which we will balkanize India and liberate Punjab”
14-Jul-2022
Canada-based Sikh leader and businessman Ripudaman Singh Malik, who was acquitted in the 1985 Air India bombing case, was shot dead in British Columbia’s Surrey in Canada on July 14. Local Police said that the shots were fired at 9:30 am local time and that the man succumbed to his injuries at the scene. They added that the shooting appeared to be targeted attack. While no arrests have been made, the Police found a burnt vehicle around 2 kilometers from the scene of the crime.
23-Feb-2022
India Government has formally expressed its 'serious concern' to Canada over the appearance of an elected mayor of a city in Canada’s Greater Toronto Area at an event that featured Khalistan flags as well as anti-India slogans. The Indian government’s concern was related to flags of the Khalistan movement being seen in the backdrop to Brampton mayor Patrick Brown’s speech. The demarche issued by India’s High Commission in Ottawa, was related to the mayor of Brampton Patrick Brown attending and addressing a vigil at City Hall for Deep Sidhu, who emerged as a significant figure during the protests against farm laws in India, was arrested for violence at Red Fort on Republic Day last year, and died in an accident this month. The Indian government’s concern was related to flags of the secessionist Khalistan movement being seen in the backdrop to Brown’s speech, as other attendees held placards reading ‘#IndiaKills’.
23-Feb-2022
A wanted drug smuggler, Sarbjit Singh Sander was found murdered in Langley, Canada, on February 10, central and state security agencies confirmed on February 23. Sander was a co-accused in the Rs 6,000-crore drug smuggling case, in which dismissed cop Jagdish Bhola’s name also cropped up. He was among 11 wanted drug smugglers hiding in Canada. In February 2018, then Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had handed over the list of the 11 smugglers to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for their speedy extradition. The Punjab Police and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had also moved applications for the extradition of the accused. According to Police, the murder of Sander ahead of the Assembly elections in Punjab was a curious development. “Sander’s murder is a setback to the investigation into the international drug smuggling that involves big fish,” said a police official.
23-Feb-2022
An Indo-Canadian media person and host of a Punjabi-language talk show network in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Deepak Punj was assaulted by a group of three persons, for apparently criticising pro-Khalistan elements in Canada. Deepak Punj, host of Frontline Radio, was accosted by three young men at around 12.30pm local time on February 23, while he was preparing to enter the building housing his studio. The day prior, he had featured a show during which he had criticised the display of Khalistan flags and anti-India slogans during a vigil in Brampton, a GTA town, on February 20. Deepak said, that appeared to be the provocation for the attack. “They asked me if I did a show on this topic, and then attacked me,” he said. One of the as yet unidentified assailants was armed with a handgun, while another hit Punj on the head with an empty beer bottle and punched him. Punj said he reported the assault to local law enforcement and it was being investigated. He said the attackers spoke to him in English and Punjabi. “I’m being harassed because I’m from Punjab and I oppose Khalistan,” he added.
07-Feb-2022
Several Indian media outlets published a report calling out Jagmeet Singh’s denunciation of trucker’s strike, support of farmers protests as they term it is a hypocritical move. The report said “The Sikh-origin leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party (NDP) who is now condemning truckers strike in Ottawa, had staunchly supported the farmers' protests in India last year.”
05-Feb-2022
Tejinder Singh Sidhu, President, World Sikh Organization of Canada, in his letter to Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, described hardships faced by Canadian Gurdwaras and the Sikh community as a result of restrictive immigration policies. Due to Covid, restrictive immigration policies have frozen the arrival of Sikh parcharaks (religious workers) into Canada for the past two years.
31-Jan-2022
According to reports, hundreds of trucks and thousands of protesters, most of them Sikhs migrated from India, blocked the streets towards downtown Ottawa to protest against the government's vaccine mandates required to cross the Canada-US border. The protest is part of a self-titled 'Freedom Convoy 2022', which started out as a rally of truckers against the requirement that Canadian truck drivers crossing the border into the US be fully vaccinated as of mid-January.
26-Jan-2022
Over 100 pro-Khalistanis from across BC gathered outside the Indian consulate at 325 Howe Street in Vancouver to protest the Indian government on India’s Republic Day. The annual protests are targeting the Indian government’s mistreatment of Sikhs and this time the protest was focused on Sikh political prisoners, many of whom have been imprisoned for decades. A statement from the Sikh Press Association (SPA) said, “The issues run deep for Canada’s Sikhs, many of whom themselves feel at risk of India’s grasp.”
26-Jan-2022
Khalistani terrorist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on multiple terror charges raised the 80 feet high Khalistan flag towering above Tricolour at the Indian Embassy in Vancouver.
21-Jan-2022
New Delhi has formally asked Canada for “ample deployment” of security at its missions in the country so there is no repeat of pro-Khalistan disruptions as last year. The Indian request was conveyed via a note verbale, an official diplomatic communique, issued by India’s High Commission to Ottawa to Canada’s foreign ministry, Global Affairs Canada. There have been open statements about disturbing Republic Day functions in Vancouver from the secessionist outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), while other hardline groups have planned a car rally to the consulate in Toronto and a demonstration in front of the High Commission in Ottawa. The Indian official said assurances had been received that Canadian law enforcement charged with diplomatic security will “enhance patrolling, deploy static and plainclothes personnel”.
18-Jan-2022
Canada based Sikh, Ripudaman Singh Malik, whose name had cropped up in the Kanishka bombing in 1985, praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his commendable gesture towards the Sikh community. Malik, who is also president of Satnam Education Society of B.C., Canada, also expressed his concerns over a few Sikhs for allegedly unleashing a coordinated campaign against PM Modi. In his letter to Modi, Malik mentioned various initiatives of the government which includes reopening 1984 anti-Sikh riots closed cases, opening of Kartarpur Corridor; appointing a Sikh, Iqbal Singh Lalpura as Chairperson of National Commission for Minorities; grant of FCRA (Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act) license for Golden Temple; year-long celebrations of 350th birth anniversary of Sikh’s first master Guru Nanak Dev; 450th birth anniversary of ‘Hind ki Chadar’ Guru Teg Bahadur and recognizing the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh's younger sons Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh by declaring December 26 as 'Veer Bal Divas'. Malik had fought a long battle before he was acquitted by the Canadian judiciary in 2005 of the charges of blowing Air India’s Flight 182 in Kanishka. While expressing concern at some Sikhs who were allegedly working against the Modi government, Malik writes “I am concerned at an orchestrated campaign by some misguided members of my community against you in person and India at large”.
12-Jan-2022
India and Canada have decided to take their bilateral relationship to the next level with plans to enhance security, defence and trade ties under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s third term. India’s High Commissioner to Canada Ajay Bisaria said the countries are undertaking “fresh initiatives” in order to have “greater coordination” in a changing geopolitical environment. However, according to sources, with Ottawa not recognising the so-called ‘Punjab 2020 Referendum’, promoted by pro-Khalistan group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a banned outfit in India, the bilateral relationship between both countries is poised for a reset of sorts. In November 2021, a three-member team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had visited Canada to investigate the funding routes of the SFJ and other pro-Khalistan groups. While the NIA has urged the Canadian government to declare SFJ as a terrorist entity, it has also agreed to share “actionable intelligence” with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the source said. The source also said both the NIA and Canada’s National Security Information Network (a wing of the RCMP that deals with national security and terrorism) have decided to get a regular dialogue mechanism going against the pro-Khalistan groups present in that country.
10-Jun-2021
In a response to Canada MP Jagmeet Singh’s politicism over Islamophobia in Canada, journalist and author Tarek Fatah stated that "Let me assure you Mr. Singh, both as a New Democrat and as a Muslim, it is only in Canada that I feel safe as a Muslim. Not in your imaginary Khalistan or in Iran, Turkey, or Pakistan that fuels much of the terrorism and hate around the world out of their consulates and embassies in Europe and North America."
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”.