Ottawa’s Accusations of Indian Campaign Against Canadian-Based Critics: A Valuation for Sikh Activists
TORONTO: Ottawa’s accusations this week detailed a deadly Indian campaign against its Canada-based critics may have further derailed bilateral relations — but to Sikh activists, the striking disclosures brought validation.
Canada Accuses India of Orchestrating Murder
Canada has accused India of orchestrating the 2023 killing in Vancouver of 45-year-old naturalised Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent campaigner for ‘Khalistan’, the fringe separatist movement for an independent Sikh homeland in India’s Punjab state. In public comments this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the national police said India’s targeting of Canadian Khalistan activists went beyond Nijjar’s killing, and has included a broad campaign of intimidation, violence and other threats. India has dismissed the allegations.
Validation for Sikh Activists
"It was very validating," Harinder Sohi told AFP at a thinly attended protest on Friday outside the Indian consulate in Toronto. "This is something that we believed in for years and people weren’t listening to us," the 42-year-old Khalistan activist said. The dozens of protesters at Friday’s rally waved yellow flags with ‘Khalistan’ written in bold blue letters and repeated a chant branding Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi "a terrorist." They also erected a prison cell around an effigy of the Indian leader. Sohi said it was meaningful that Canada has now publicly affirmed the "danger" India poses to people living across Canada. "It is shocking that we as Canadian citizens have to live in fear of a foreign government," he said.
Canada’s Resolve to Go Public
Testifying Wednesday at an inquiry on foreign interference, Trudeau made clear his government was not looking to blow up relations with a major trading partner with whom Canada has deep ties. But he said when faced with clear evidence the Indian government had directed acts of violence inside Canada and breached Canadian "sovereignty," he and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police resolved to go public in the interest of public safety.
The Khalistan Campaign
The Khalistan campaign dates back to India’s 1947 independence, and within India today any support for the movement faces a swift crackdown. Jatinder Singh Grewal, a director with the Sikhs for Justice advocacy group and a Khalistan supporter, argued that Modi’s government is intent on silencing support for the movement abroad because it fears discussion among the Sikh diaspora could fuel a movement at home. "If you allow the Canadian Sikhs, or the American Sikhs or the British Sikhs to openly talk about this, you will eventually make the Punjabi Sikh say, ‘Why can’t I talk about this openly?’" Grewal praised Trudeau’s public disclosures and Canada’s decision to expel Indian diplomats but said more was needed, endorsing the closure of Indian consulates in Toronto and Vancouver, arguing they have been used to coordinate violence against Sikhs.
Sikh Community in Canada
There are roughly 770,000 Sikhs in Canada, about 2% of the population, the largest Sikh community outside of India. Sikhs are heavily concentrated in suburban areas, notably around Toronto and Vancouver, and the community’s vote has been pivotal in past national elections.
Conclusion
The revelations have sparked a renewed sense of validation among Sikh activists, who believe that Canada’s accusations have vindicated their long-standing claims of Indian persecution. While some have questioned the government’s motivations, most recognize that Canada’s actions are a necessary step towards protecting the rights and safety of its citizens. As the controversy continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the debate over India’s conduct is far from over.
FAQs
- What is the Khalistan movement?
The Khalistan movement is a fringe separatist movement for an independent Sikh homeland in India’s Punjab state. - Who is Hardeep Singh Nijjar?
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a 45-year-old naturalised Canadian citizen, was a prominent campaigner for the Khalistan movement and was murdered in Vancouver in 2023. - What are the allegations against India?
Canada has accused India of orchestrating the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and engaging in a broader campaign of intimidation, violence, and threats against Canadian Khalistan activists. - What is the Sikh community’s response to the allegations?
The Sikh community in Canada has welcomed Canada’s actions, viewing them as a validation of their long-standing claims of Indian persecution.